Nine counties in Ireland hit with thunderstorm warnings amid heatwave

'Potential Impacts: Difficult travelling conditions, localised flooding, lightning damage.'

The first to take effect will be a Status Yellow thunderstorm warning from Met Éireann for Clare, Kerry and Limerick.

Valid from 3pm to 9pm on Wednesday (13 August), it reads: "Thunderstorms possible in parts.

"Potential Impacts: Difficult travelling conditions, localised flooding, lightning damage."

The other is a Yellow thunderstorm warning from the UK Met Office, which applies to all six counties in Northern Ireland.

Scheduled to take effect from 12am to 10pm on Thursday (14 August), it states:

"Whilst some places will remain dry, heavy showers and thunderstorms could cause disruption on Thursday."

The warnings have come as Ireland is in the middle of another heatwave.

According to Met Éireann's forecast, temperatures are set to reach around 25 to 27 degrees during the day for the rest of the week.

Its national outlook overview reads: "Warm and humid weather continuing with plenty of dry weather, though some showery interludes at times."

The warm weather is expected to stick around heading into next week.

"Monday will also bring sunny spells and some showers to parts which could be heavy or thundery," Met Éireann says.

"Temperatures in the low to mid 20s, a little cooler along the east and south coast, with onshore breezes."