Yellow warnings for heavy rain and gales in Ireland and NI

Weather agencies issued yellow warnings on Thursday for heavy rain and strong winds across parts of Ireland and Northern Ireland, with forecasters warning of coastal gales, localised flooding and possible travel disruption. The alerts take effect across southern and western counties in the Republic and across Northern Ireland from Thursday afternoon into the evening.

Met Éireann placed Cork and Kerry under a Status Yellow rain warning from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, and issued a Status Yellow wind warning for Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Wexford from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. The national forecaster said spells of heavy rain would spread northeastwards through the morning and early afternoon, with very strong southerly winds and gales along coasts. Galway and Mayo face a separate Status Yellow rain warning from midday until 8 p.m., and a Status Yellow thunderstorm warning covering Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork and Waterford is in place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., with forecasters warning of heavy, thundery downpours that could cause spot flooding and difficult travel.

The Met Office issued a Yellow Wind Warning covering Northern Ireland from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. on...