Met Éireann has issued a status yellow fog warning for 11 counties on Saturday morning.

The alert applies to Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath and Wicklow. Met Éireann said dense fog will reduce visibility and make driving difficult. The warning is valid from 5am to 10am on Saturday.

The fog follows rainfall on Friday which will leave high levels of moisture in the air. As the ground cools overnight the air above it also cools and can no longer hold the same amount of water vapour. The vapour then condenses into tiny droplets that form low cloud which appears as fog.

Although the morning will be foggy much of Saturday afternoon is expected to stay dry with some brighter spells before rain moves into the south and west on Saturday night. Temperatures will be slightly higher with highs of 6 to 11 degrees.

Separate yellow marine warnings remain in place as southerly winds are forecast to reach force six or higher at times. A Small Craft Warning is in effect for waters from Malin Head to Howth Head to Mizen Head until 4am on Saturday.

Another Small Craft Warning will cover all coasts of Ireland from 6pm on Saturday until 5am on Sunday as winds shift from southerly to westerly or cyclonic variable while remaining at force six or above.