Heavy rain impacts western counties

The wet weather returned on Friday evening with heavy rain extending from the south in the western half of Ireland.

The heaviest rain will continue to fall in the western half of Ireland in the early hours of Saturday morning before becoming more widespread on Saturday.

Met Éireann says heavy rain and a few thundery downpours may result in spot flooding up to Saturday evening.

A Status Yellow Rainfall warning has been issued for Galway, Munster and south Leinster and will remain in effect until 2.00pm on Saturday.

Up to one inch of rain could fall in the ten counties placed under the alert.

Live webcams along the west coast showed a dreary scene as the first appreciable rainfall in almost two weeks fell.

Motorists across Ireland are urged to drive with caution on Friday evening and Saturday as some road surfaces will be greasy and more slippery than usual following the long dry spell.

When the first rain falls after a period of dry weather, bitumen, oil and rubber from tyres mixes with the rainwater. This can form a slick surface on the roads, sometimes resembling an oil spill.

Drier conditions are expected on Sunday and into the early days of next week.