Met Eireann has issued a thunderstorm warning for Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Longford, Westmeath, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Offaly, and Roscommon effective into Thursday evening.
The status yellow alert was published at 4.10pm this afternoon and will remain in effect until 9pm for all five counties as heavy showers continue.
Drivers are being asked to be extra vigilant on the roads in the worst affected areas as “local thunderstorms and lightning strikes" bring about "poor driving conditions,” according to the Irish forecaster.
READ MORE: Met Eireann's mixed weekend forecast as heavy rain to stick around
Elsewhere, the forecast says scattered showers and bright or sunny spells are expected for the rest of today. Some of the showers will be heavy and thundery in parts with the most persistent of them likely to move into the northeast this evening.
Tonight there will be showery outbreaks of rain in Ulster and Leinster, with some heavy falls locally but it will be largely dry elsewhere with some clear spells.
Heading into the weekend, there will be a good deal of cloud about for a time on Friday, especially in eastern and midland areas with scattered outbreaks of rain.
Better sunny spells are expected further to the west with well-scattered showers, as sunny spells develop more widely across the county later in the day - though with still a few heavy showers locally.
Saturday will be a dry day for most with isolated showers and sunny periods. However, it may turn cloudier in the southwest in the evening.
As the hurricane activity continues out in the North Atlantic, the Irish forecaster says “there is still some uncertainty in the details of the further outlook period.”
However, at this point it looks as if “it will turn cloudy across the country on Saturday night with rain spreading to many areas from the southwest, turning heavy at times.”
“Sunday will be a wet day with widespread heavy rain likely, and moderate southerly winds. Highest temperatures of 17 to 20 degrees.”
READ NEXT:
- Love Island stars a month on - breakups, cheating accusations and the couple proving everyone wrong
- Hurricane Danielle takes 'unexpected turn' as Irish weather forecast predicts if it will hit us
- Charlie Bird thanks strangers who comforted him in Dunnes Stores after 'awful crying moment'
- Dublin-based work syndicate collects big EuroMillions prize and lists spending plans
- Family of six reveal how they have saved €115,000 and holiday for free
Get breaking news to your inbox bysigning up to our newsletter
