Met Eireann issues red alert for rainfall in coming hours

Met Eireann has issued its most severe weather warning for Connacht and other parts of the country, saying there will be 'incessant falls of heavy rain' overnight tonight (Friday) and for all of Saturday.

The status red rain warning is in place for Connacht, Donegal, Clare and Kerry, and it predicts accumulations in excess of 70mm, with greater totals on higher ground.

Meanwhile a yellow rain warning (the least severe warning on the three-colour scale) is in place for Leinster, with rainfall totals of 30 to 50 mm.

The red rainfall warning for Connacht is in place from 6pm this evening until 3am on Sunday, while the yellow warning for Leinster came into effect at 9am this morning and will remain in place until midnight tomorrow.

It will also be very windy, particularly along the west coast where an orange (intermediate-level) warning is in place, suggesting gusts of up to 120 km/h today and tomorrow.