Despite warm weather and sunny skies overhead, parts of Ireland are again being warned of severe thunderstorms and rain on Thursday.
With Met Éireann predicting temperatures climbing to 26C for a fourth consecutive day, one weather expert has issued a 'severe weather warning' for 13 counties.
He says thunderstorms could sweep across the country on Thursday afternoon with the majority of the Midlands feeling the brunt.
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Weather man Cathal Nolan from the Ireland Weather Channel issued the alert for Offaly, Westmeath, Roscommon, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Longford, Donegal, Clare, Cavan and North Tipperary.
"During the course of the the afternoon and evening heavy showers will spark off across central, western and northwestern areas in particular where some of the showers will develop into thunderstorms," Cathal warned.
He added: "Some of these thunderstorms are likely to be severe in nature with a risk of frequent lightning, torrential rain, strong winds and some rather large hail is possible also.
"Under some of the strongest storms rainfall totals could reach up to 40/50mm of rain falling in a relatively short period of time, with and associated risk of localised flooding."
Cathal predicts the storms will begin to develop shortly after 1pm, "probably peaking between the hours of 2pm and 7pm before easing off and clearing away to the northwest of the country.
"The areas worst affected will be similar to those impacted on Tuesday, with counties Offaly, Westmeath, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Longford, North Tipperary, Donegal and Cavan likely to be worst affected.
Meanwhile, Met Éireann has not yet issued a warning but is predicting similar conditions on Thursday.
They say it will be "mainly dry with sunny spells in the north and east, but cloudier elsewhere" and that "scattered heavy showers will develop this afternoon and evening, most frequent over the midlands and northwest, with thunderstorms and spot flooding possible.
"It will be very warm with light to moderate south to southeast winds. Highest temperatures of 22 to 26 degrees generally although sea breezes will keep coastal areas slightly cooler," a forecaster added.
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