Rain warning issued for parts of Leinster and Munster amid risk of ‘intense falls’

Met Éireann warns of risk of spot flooding as it issues status yellow alert for Sunday

A rainfall warning has been issued for parts of Leinster and Munster for Sunday morning. File photograph: Dara Mac Dóaill/The Irish Times
A rainfall warning has been issued for parts of Leinster and Munster for Sunday morning. File photograph: Dara Mac Dóaill/The Irish Times

A rainfall warning was in place for parts of Leinster and Munster on Sunday morning, after Met Éireann said these areas could experience "intense falls" of rain.

Met Éireann issued the status-yellow rain warning for counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork, Tipperary and Waterford. The alert came into effect at 2am on Sunday and was in place until 11am that day.

The forecaster said that “some intense falls of rain” were likely in these areas during the period covered by the warning, with a risk of spot flooding, especially on high ground.

A status-yellow marine gale warning was also issued for Sunday. It was in place from 3am to midday and covered coastal waters from Howth Head to Hook Head to Mizen Head, as well as the Irish Sea. Met Éireann said winds would reach gale force 8 at times on the affected waters.

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A small craft warning was also in place for Malin Head to Carnsore Point to Slyne Head until 9pm on Sunday with winds of force six or seven forecast. Another small craft warning was due to come into effect from 9pm on Sunday for all coasts of Ireland until 6pm on Monday, with north or northwest winds expected to reach force six or higher.

In terms of the national outlook, lowest overnight temperatures on Saturday night were forecast to be between 4 and 8 degrees, with mostly light to moderate variable winds over land.

Met Éireann said rain would become persistent and widespread by Sunday morning. Brighter spells and showers would follow through during Sunday afternoon in the west and southwest. However, cloud and rain would linger in parts of the north and east, and some sleet could fall over higher parts of Ulster in the evening.

Highest temperatures on Sunday would be between 5 and 9 degrees, feeling cooler at times in the afternoon due to winds, the forecaster said.

Met Éireann said Sunday night would be a night of clear spells and scattered showers. It said the showers would mainly be confined to northern and Atlantic coasts, with some turning wintry, especially over higher ground. Lowest temperatures on Sunday night would be between 0 to 4 degrees, with some frost and icy patches possible.

Monday was expected to be a cold and bright day with sunny spells and well-scattered showers, some hail. Highest temperatures would range from 5 to 9 degrees in a fresh northwest breeze, the forecaster said.