Ireland on alert as ex-Hurricane Melissa drives downpours and Met Éireann weather warnings

Ireland is set to be drenched as the remnants of ex-Hurricane Melissa sweeps in from the Atlantic, bringing torrential rain, flooding risks and blustery winds through the start of the week.

Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow rain warning for Clare, Kerry, Galway and Mayo from 8pm tonight until 8pm Monday, warning of "persistent rain, turning heavy at times" and possible "localised flooding, difficult travel conditions and poor visibility."

The worst of the weather will hit the west, where heavy rain moves in after sunset before spreading eastwards overnight.

READ MORE | ALERT: Irish consumers urged to check bottles as popular wine recalled over safety fears

Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather said the soaking start to the week follows a deceptive calm on Sunday morning.

"A bright start to Sunday for many before cloud increases with some showers and then persistent rain moves in from west after sunset. A lot of rain to fall between Sunday night and Tuesday morning," he said.

Cathal Nolan of Ireland's Weather Channel said an "organised mass of cloud" linked to ex-Hurricane Melissa would bring widespread outbreaks of rain.

"It's expected to stay to the south of Greenland and move a little bit towards Iceland, and as it does, it brings in these areas of clouds and outbreaks of rain, bringing an increased chance of heavy rain until the start of next week," he said.

Met Éireann's latest forecast warns that tonight will turn wet and blustery as rain extends eastwards, bringing localised flooding across western counties and misty conditions in places. The rain will turn more scattered later in the night with the lowest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees in fresh to strong southwesterly winds.

READ MORE | 'It's the only thing I'm angry about' - Emotional Miriam O'Callaghan tells Late Late Show

Monday will be dull and blustery with further spells of rain, heaviest across the western half of the country. It will be humid and mild with the highest temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees in a strong southwest wind.

The unsettled weather is expected to continue on Monday night, with wet and blustery conditions mainly affecting southern and eastern counties. Localised flooding is possible again, and it will remain very mild with lowest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees in gusty southwest winds.

Tuesday will bring scattered outbreaks of rain with some heavy bursts. According to Met Éireann, "the rain will be mainly confined to northwest areas by late afternoon with some late bright or sunny spells." Temperatures will remain mild, ranging between 12 and 16 degrees.

Wednesday will see "a wet day with spells of thundery rain moving up from the south," while Thursday remains uncertain but will bring further variable and unsettled conditions.

Looking further ahead, Met Éireann says "an Atlantic flow will dominate with showers or longer spells of rain, remaining mild and largely frost free."

READ MORE | RIP: Pedestrian (30s) dies after being hit by bus on busy N7 motorway as gardaí issue appeal