Warning as thunder, lightning and hail all in nightmare Ireland weather forecast

Despite a beautiful start to Monday morning and the new week, one weather forecaster is predicting thunderstorms, hail and even flooding in places in the afternoon.

Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel made the prediction early on Monday morning as Ireland baked in sunshine following a largely dry weekend, particularly Sunday when temperatures hit 22C.

Cathal said: "After another beautiful morning across the country localised showers will begin to develop through the late morning and early afternoon, with thunderstorms developing thereafter. Where these thunderstorms do develop they will be rather slow moving and bring with them a risk of some severe impacts.

"Torrential rain will lead to spot flooding in some areas as up to 30-40mm is possible in a short space of time, accompanied by frequent lightning and hail. Local disruption to power services are possible as well as some tricky driving conditions.

"The counties under the Ireland Weather Channel warning include Offaly, Westmeath, Longford, Roscommon, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Cavan."

Met Éireann has not issued a warning for a number of counties just before 11am on Monday.

The Status Yellow thunderstorm warning covers Cavan, Donegal, Connacht and Longford and warns people in those counties of "heavy downpours with thunderstorms and hail."

Met Éireann list potential impacts "spot flooding, difficult traveling conditions and poor visibility." The warning is valid until 9pm on Monday.

The rest of Met Éireann's Monday forecast reads: "Dry and bright this morning with plenty of sunny spells. A few showers will develop this afternoon, turning rather heavy and thundery across the midlands and west with the chance of hail and lightning strikes. The showers will continue through to this evening and it will turn more overcast too. Highest temperatures of 19 to 23 degrees and light winds.

"A few showers in the midlands and the north and west will persist into the night, heavy at times too. Most will clear away overnight with further showers developing later. Winds remaining light with lowest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees."

For Tuesday, they add: "A cloudy start with showers developing from early morning. The showers will turn heavy and possibly thundery in the east and south for a time in the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 14 to 18 degrees and light winds."

The Met Éireann outlook for the next few days says: "Rather unsettled at times with showers and temperatures turning cooler towards the end of the week."