Electric Picnic festival-goers are being warned to be prepared as weather forecasters predict potential flooding in the area this weekend.
Festivities kick off today in Co Laois as a record-breaking 70,000 music-lovers head down to attend the event after two years of cancellations due to Covid.
However, despite the excitement for its return, Met Eireann has put a dampener on spirits and is warning of heavy overnight rain transforming the place into a ‘mudfest.’
Matthew Martin, a Met Éireann forecaster, told Newstalk Breakfast things don't look great and that people should be prepared for ‘all eventualities.’
"For today certainly it doesn't look too bad initially for much of the day,” he said.
"But it's really going to deteriorate later this evening and tonight - and then the weekend is looking quite wet at times.
"Whilst there's going to be heavy rain at times, there are going decent dry periods as well.
"So it's not all bad - but there is that possibility that there could be some localised flooding.
"It certainly is not ideal conditions".
A weather advisory is also in place across the weekend as wet and windy conditions arrive in across the country. It is in effect from 7pm on Friday until 7pm on Monday.
"Obviously you're going to have to be prepared for all eventualities when you head down to Stradbally," Martin said.
"It's just unfortunate now, it looks like low pressure is going to be the dominant factor of our weather - really for the next week or so,” which he admitted is “just bad timing, I guess.”
Meanwhile, Met Eireann has published a status yellow rain warning for the entire country on Saturday in effect from 9pm that night until 12pm on Sunday afternoon.
It is warning: "High rainfall amounts this weekend that may cause disruption."
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