Met Eireann has issued a Status Orange rain warning for 15 counties for the early hours of Sunday morning as heavy rain and thunder storms look to set to bring a "deluge" of rain across the country.
Forecasters issued a warning to the more than 70,000 people at Electric Picnic that they are in for a night of thunder storms and lightning. Met Eireann said local intense rainfall of up to 50mm is expected in Offaly, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Westmeath, Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow.
The warning will be in place from 4am to 8am on Sunday morning. There is also a Status Yellow rain warning for all of Ireland set to come into effect at 1am, lasting until 10am tomorrow.
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In its forecast, Met Eireann said that "heavy rain will move northwards across much of the country tonight, clearing from the north and northwest on Sunday morning". Some torrential downpours are expected in parts, resulting in surface flooding and there is also the potential for thunderstorm activity and lightning strikes."
Festival-goers at Electric Picnic are being warned to prepare for heavy downpours overnight. Joanna Donnelly from Met Eireann said thunderstorms are also expected "throughout the night".
Speaking to RTE News, Ms Donnelly warned those staying at the venue tonight to make sure they are "well protected from the elements". She said: "It is overnight tonight that is going to see the period of the worst weather, with thunderstorms through the night, so if you are in a tent make sure you are well sealed up and well protected from the elements. It is going to be a rough night overnight."
The forecaster said there will be an "ongoing period of heavy rain" coming through. Ms Donnelly said: "It has been raining all day today for many places, which is clearing away, but there is more coming back in the flow, some heavy, and some thunderstorms in there as well giving deluges of heavy rain coming through in those downpours."
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