Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Justin Kelly

Met Éireann in new thunderstorm warning for 13 counties with hail and gusts to lash across country

Met Éireann has issued a new thunderstorm warning for 13 counties on Thursday with horrid conditions to make their way across the country in the afternoon and evening.

The Status Yellow thunderstorm warning has been issued for Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Donegal, Connacht, Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath.

Met Éireann warns of "localised showers with heavy downpours, thunderstorms, gusty winds and a chance of hail."

Read More: 'I was struck by lightning in my Offaly kitchen - doctors told me one unlikely item saved my life'

Read More: Ireland thunderstorm warning: Expert sounds alarm over 'severe weather' to hit Ireland today with one area worst affected

They say that there could be instances of localised flooding in these counties as well as "difficult driving conditions."

The warning is in place from 3pm to 9pm on Thursday.

Met Éireann's further forecast for today says that it will be "mainly dry with sunny spells in the north and east, but cloudier elsewhere" and that "scattered heavy showers will develop this afternoon and evening, most frequent over the midlands and northwest, with thunderstorms and spot flooding possible.

"It will be very warm with light to moderate south to southeast winds. Highest temperatures of 22 to 26 degrees generally although sea breezes will keep coastal areas slightly cooler," a forecaster added.

Weather man Cathal Nolan from the Ireland Weather Channel similarly issued an alert for Offaly, Westmeath, Roscommon, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Longford, Donegal, Clare, Cavan and North Tipperary.

"During the course of the the afternoon and evening heavy showers will spark off across central, western and northwestern areas in particular where some of the showers will develop into thunderstorms," Cathal warned.

He added: "Some of these thunderstorms are likely to be severe in nature with a risk of frequent lightning, torrential rain, strong winds and some rather large hail is possible also.

"Under some of the strongest storms rainfall totals could reach up to 40/50mm of rain falling in a relatively short period of time, with and associated risk of localised flooding."

Cathal predicts the storms will begin to develop shortly after 1pm, "probably peaking between the hours of 2pm and 7pm before easing off and clearing away to the northwest of the country.

"The areas worst affected will be similar to those impacted on Tuesday, with counties Offaly, Westmeath, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Longford, North Tipperary, Donegal and Cavan likely to be worst affected.

READ NEXT:

Join our new WhatsApp community! Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.