Freak Met Éireann weather warning pinpoints three counties for rough 24 hours

Met Éireann has issued a weather warning for three counties on Monday with brutal conditions to sweep across the south of the country.

The Status Yellow rainfall warning was issued on Sunday and comes into effect on Monday morning for Cork, Kerry and Waterford.

The warning predicts "spells of heavy rain" and Met Éireann says the weather event could result in "spot flooding, poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions." It is valid from 9am on Monday until 6am on Tuesday.

The news isn't much better for the rest of the country with the cold weather of the last few days being replaced by unsettled conditions with heavy rain.

Met Éireann's outlook says it looks like "becoming milder and frost-free" but "unsettled too with frequent wet and breezy spells."

Their forecast says: "Monday will be another cloudy or overcast day with scattered falls of rain and drizzle. Rain will be heaviest and most persistent in the south and west with the possibility of spot flooding. Much of the eastern half of the country will stay largely dry until later in the afternoon or evening. Highest temperatures of 5 to 11 degrees, coolest in Ulster and mildest in Munster. Breezy in a moderate to fresh and gusty southeast wind, strong at times near coasts.

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"Wet and breezy weather will persist for much of the night with mist in places. Lows of 4 to 9 degrees (north to south) in a brisk southeast wind.

"A damp or wet start with further scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle [on Tuesday]. However, rain and drizzle will clear northwards during the morning and afternoon with some brighter spells developing from the south. Fresh southeast winds will persist through the day though. Highest temperatures of 7 to 12 degrees, mildest for west and southwest counties. A band of rain will gradually move in from the Atlantic overnight with brisk southeast winds persisting. Lows of 4 to 9 degrees, coolest across the north and east."

The forecast for Wednesday predicts "another breezy day with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Noticeably milder nationwide with highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees. Southeast to south winds will remain mostly fresh in strength. Still breezy after-dark with further bands of rain moving in from the west. Lows of 7 to 11 degrees.

"Generally cloudy and breezy with scattered falls of blustery rain, heavy at times [on Thursday]. Some mild sunny spells are possible too however. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees with fresh to strong south to southwest winds."

The Met Éireann outlook beyond that says "a large steering low in the nearby Atlantic will continue to feed in a similar airmass with the potential for heavier falls of rain on Friday."