Intense thunderstorm activity across Midlands and West

Intense thunderstorm activity over the Midlands and West of the country brought power cuts and spot flooding on Monday.

Hundreds of lightning strikes were recorded during the afternoon and early evening as a result of deep convection, in the form of towering cumulus and cumulonimbus clouds.

ESB PowerCheck reported hundreds of properties without power due to cloud-to-ground lightning strikes, including in Rathkeale and Cappamore (Limerick), Toomevara, Templemore, and Roscrea (Tipperary), and Gort (Galway).

Thunderstorm activity is expected to continue shifting westward as Monday evening progresses.

Met Éireann currently has a Status Yellow thunderstorm warning in place for counties Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Laois, and Offaly. The national weather service has warned of possible spot flooding. The warning expires at 8.00pm.

There will be further scattered heavy showers on Tuesday, with the risk shifting to the north Midlands, north Connacht, and Ulster. It will be drier and sunnier further south.

Dry conditions will follow for Wednesday and Thursday.

A slow transition to less settled conditions will begin on Friday and continue through the weekend, as temperatures dip back to the mid to high teens and winds become moderate westerly.

By Friday evening, outbreaks of light rain associated with a weak warm front will extend into the west and northwest, before moving east across Ireland on Friday night and Saturday morning.