Met Éireann has issued Status Orange weather warnings for very heavy rain in Wicklow and Waterford tomorrow (Thursday, February 5).

The national forecaster said the alert will come into force at 3:00a.m on Thursday and remain in place until 3:00a.m on Friday (February 6).

The spells of very heavy rain are falling on already saturated ground in the south, south-east and east of the country.

Met Éireann said the rain combined with high river levels and high tides will lead to a risk of localised flooding and river flooding, with potential impacts along the entire course of the river.

The heavy rain will also make travelling conditions difficult at times.

Met Éireann

A Status Yellow rainfall warning has been issued for counties Carlow; Dublin; Kildare; Kilkenny; Laois; Louth; Wexford; Monaghan and Tipperary.

This warning will also be in place from 3:00a.m on Thursday until 3:00a.m on Friday.

There will be a risk of localised flooding, river flooding and difficult travel conditions in these areas.

Met Éireann previously issued a weather advisory for spells of heavy and persistent rainfall this week, particularly in southern and eastern counties.

It said that flooding is likely due to a combination of already saturated ground, high river levels and high tides.

Rainfall amounts this week will generally be 1.5 to 3 times normal for many areas, possibly up to 4 times normal in some eastern areas.

However, in west and northwest coastal areas, rainfall will be closer to or below normal.

Weather

The weather today will be generally cloudy with some bright or sunny spells in places.

Rain and drizzle in the north and north-east will clear by early afternoon with scattered showers following from the south, some of which will be heavy.

The showers will be most frequent in the southwest of the country.

Highs of 6° to 10°C in mostly moderate easterly winds, fresher along southern and eastern coasts.

Tonight will bring a mixture of cloud and clear spells with some showers.

Cloud will build from the south with rain moving into Munster and south Leinster by morning. Overnight lows of 3° to 7° as the easterly winds increase to strong in the south and east by morning.