Is it summer? Met Éireann Status Yellow weather rain alert has flood warning

Met Éireann has warned of heavy rain and spot flooding for the first weekend of July with commuters to and from Dublin facing difficult conditions on their journeys going into a weekend of what will be below average weather.

A Status Yellow rain warning is in place for four counties with the worst of the weather expected late Friday into Saturday.

Met Éireann expects that by Friday evening time some showers will merge to longer spells of rain with the chance of embedded thunderstorms and spot flooding.

The weather alert is in place for Louth, Meath, Wicklow and Dublin, from 10pm (Friday July 5) until 6am on Saturday. 

People in the affected counties can expect very heavy rain with potential spot flooding. 

In its overview national outlook Met Éireann expects it to continue to be quite unsettled with rain or showers. It also expects cool conditions for the time of year over the weekend, though temperatures will improve slightly in some parts for a time next week.

Met Éireann's farming section says  the coming week will be unsettled and rainfall amounts will be above average over much of the country with 15 to 60mm expected generally which is 1 to 3.5 times the normal amounts. 

The farming commentary says mean air temperatures will likely be around 13 or 14 degrees which is 2 or 3 degrees below the average for early July.

With mixed or changeable conditions forecast for the week ahead, there will be some good sunny spells at times but sunshine amounts will likely still be below average, added the farming commentary.

Detailed National Forecast issued at on Friday, July 5 at 8:13am by Met Éireann below audio forecast.

Friday: A mainly dry start today with some sunny spells. Scattered showers will move in from the west by afternoon. Some of the showers will be heavy. By evening time some showers merging to longer spells of rain with the chance of embedded thunderstorms and spot flooding. Highest temperatures of 14 to 18 degrees with a light southwest or variable breeze.

Further heavy scattered showers overnight, with heavy rain for a time in parts of the north and east which may lead to spot flooding. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees with a light to moderate northwesterly wind.

Saturday: Tomorrow will bring sunny spells, although there will be some showers in the north and west and these will extend to other areas through the afternoon and evening, turning heavy in parts. Highest temperatures of 13 to 17 degrees with a moderate west to northwest wind.

A mix of clear spells and scattered showers overnight. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees with a light westerly breeze.

Sunday: Sunny spells and showers developing widely on Sunday, with some heavy or possibly thundery downpours likely in the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 13 to 17 degrees in a light west to northwest or variable breeze.

Showers will become more isolated and die out early on in the night, leaving a mostly dry night with clear spells and some mist patches. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in a light northeasterly or variable breeze.

Monday: Some early sunshine but showers will break out during the day, turning heavy in parts later. Highest temperatures of 14 to 19 degrees in a light variable breeze. Turning dry with clear spells on Monday night and rather cool again with lows of 6 to 9 degrees.

Tuesday: Morning looks mainly dry with sunny spells. Some scattered showers will develop in the afternoon but they will be lighter than on previous days. Highs of 15 to 20 degrees in a light northeasterly breeze.

Wednesday: Sunny spells and scattered showers to the east. Highs of 17 to 21 degrees.