Weather warning issued for Kildare as weekend looks set to be a washout

A Status Yellow weather warning has been issued for Kildare after Met Éireann confirmed that around 30-40mm of rain is expected to fall in the county over the next 24 hours, while there is also a chance of some thunder and lightning over the weekend too.

The warning was initiated at 1pm this afternoon and is in effect until the same time on Saturday, with heavy rain expected to fall tonight in the county.

The rain will gradually retreat northeastwards overnight and it will become mainly dry over Munster and west Connacht with some clear spells but elsewhere further outbreaks of rain. Lowest temperatures of 6-10 degrees in light to moderate southwest to south winds freshening along the southwest coast by dawn.

Some lingering rain about Ulster and north Leinster at first tomorrow morning but clearing northeastwards. However another band of rain, with some heavy bursts, will spread from the southwest in the late morning, tracking northeastwards over the country during the afternoon and evening with a slight risk of thunder. Scattered showers will follow. Top temperatures of 14-17 degrees in moderate south to southwest breezes, but fresh to strong and gusty near the coastal fringes.

Many places will be dry with a mix of cloud and clear spells on Saturday night, but showers will affect Atlantic coastal counties. Lows of 4-7 degrees in mainly light southwesterly breezes, moderate near the coastal margins.

A brighter, fresher day with a mix of sunshine and showers will arrive on Sunday. Top temperatures of 13-16 degrees. Turning increasingly cloudy and windier from the southwest towards evening, however, with rain quickly spreading northeastwards over Munster and Connacht by sundown. Light to moderate southwesterly breezes will back south to southeast by evening, and increase fresh to strong and gusty along southern and western coasts.