A fresh weather warning has been issued for 16 counties ahead of this weekend

It kicks in this evening.

Met Éireann have issued a rainfall warning for 16 counties as heavy showers and thunder downpours are expected to hit the country in the next 24 hours. The status yellow caution covers Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal and Waterford. The warning kicks in this evening [Friday, July 27] at 9pm and lasts until 9am on Saturday morning. The warning says that "thundery downpours in places may lead to rainfall accumulations of 25-40 mm." According to Met Éireann forecasters, the thundery downpours will slowly track towards the northeast this evening. The rainfall will be the most persistent and heaviest in the east, before moving north. There will be somewhat clearer conditions spending in to the southwest later this evening. And Saturday will be an even cooler day, with temperatures reaching as high as 18C. The weather forecaster advised:

"Saturday, showery rain will linger in the north for much of the day. "However, elsewhere will see sunny spells and scattered showers. "It will be a cooler and fresher day with top temperatures of just 15 to 18 degrees in moderate to fresh westerly winds, but strong and gusty in the in the north."

Most of the country will be dry to begin with on Saturday night, but the heavy rain will move across Ireland - with the east and southeast possibly seeing some heavy rainfall in the second half of the evening.