Met Éireann has issued a weather warning for the country, with a possibility of heavy thundery showers and localised flooding.

The warning will be in force from 9 O'clock tonight and until 9 O'clock Saturday.

However, with the humid weather set to continue temperatures could reach up to 30 degrees - making today the hottest day of the year so far.

Met Éireann has issued a national weather warning

Satellite images for Thursday showing mostly clear, with rainfall not due to hit from Thursday night

Rain clouds will creep in over the country

 

Weather forecast

Thursday: Patches of mist, fog and drizzle will clear to give a generally dry day with hazy sunshine but in the east and north it will be quite sunny for much of the day.

Becoming warm with temperatures rising to between 19 and 24 degrees.

Light southeasterly winds in the morning will back east to northeast and freshen with strong gusts this evening in the south and east.

Also heavy, thundery rain will develop this evening in parts of the south and southwest.

The heavy, thundery rain will extend northwards Thursday night to affect most if not all parts of the country with locally heavy falls and poor visibility. 

A warm and humid night with temperatures not falling below 13 to 17 degrees in fresh easterly winds. 

Friday: Warm and humid with hazy sunny spells and heavy, thundery showers with a risk of hail and lightning. Temperatures of 18 to 22 degrees. 

A windy morning with fresh and gusty easterly winds but easing down during the day and veering southerly.

Outlook

Warm and muggy Friday night with some heavy showers in places and a further risk of isolated thunderstorms.

Temperatures not falling below 14 to 17 degrees and there will be fog patches also as the winds ease down.

Saturday: A very warm, muggy day with fog patches. Highest temperatures 18 to 24 degrees in almost calm conditions.
Hazy sunshine will occur but there will be heavy downpours with hail and lightning and a risk of damage and disruption.

Sunday: Slightly less humid meaning it will feel a little fresher but still quite warm with temperatures of 18 to 23 degrees in light westerly breezes. There will be good sunny spells but some scattered heavy showers will occur also but overall a lot of areas will have a mainly dry day.

Next week: Warm and at times very warm with temperatures into the mid-twenties with a mixture of sunny spells and some showers also.