The west is bracing for thunderstorms later today – with an unsettled weekend ahead for the whole country.

A Status Yellow alert for heavy rains and thunderstorms will come into force in Munster and Connacht from 6pm this evening and remain in place until 6pm on Saturday.

Met Éireann is forecasting heavy showers or longer spells of rain with thundery downpours.

It said this could lead to spot flooding, with the heaviest rainfall near the west coast on high ground.

Cool and unsettled

Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather told Newstalk things will be fairly chilly throughout the day.

“Well, we have much cooler and unsettled weather today compared to yesterday unfortunately,” he said.

“Temperatures dropping back, winds increasing and also some thundery downpours.

“There’s heavy showers arriving in from the west, but they’ll really hit many areas through today and this evening.

“Then we have a risk of thunderstorms from this evening through to Saturday evening. The worst of those will be in the west with the heaviest falls expected along the west coast and in the southwest.”

Weekend

He said there will be no change for the better as the weekend goes on.

“We’ll continue to see unsettled weather into Sunday unfortunately as well with temperatures still struggling to get above the mid-teens and some more showers.

“Also, unfortunately, some stronger winds at times so the weekend in general is unsettled I’m afraid.”

Met Éireann said Monday will remain unsettled with widespread and heavy showers in the north and drier brighter weather in the south.

It looks “generally unsettled” midweek as a low pressure continues to dominate.

Cliona O'Dwyer and Michael Staines.