MET ÉIREANN is warning of heavy rainfall tonight and over the coming days creating the risk of localised flooding in parts of the west.

The weather service is forecasting rainfall of up to 50mm in parts of Cork, Kerry, Galway and Mayo between 6am tomorrow and Friday morning.

Further rain on Friday could see the total rainfall reaching between 60mm and 80mm over the two days in these areas. Although conditions are expected to be dry in the east tomorrow morning, that rainfall is expected to spread across the country through the day.

Editor of Irish Weather Online Mark Dunphy told TheJournal.ie this evening that west Munster would be worst affected by the coming rainfall and that Friday’s rain is when flooding might become an issue.

However, he said that any flooding which occurs is likely to be limited to spot flooding, and that motorists should take particular care.

Meanwhile, strong south to south-east winds could reach gusts of up to 100km an hour in exposed areas. Those winds are expected to reach gale force 6 today and tonight in coastal areas from Erris Head, Fair Head and Howth Head.

The weather is expected to become drier on Saturday and Sunday. Dunphy said that the weekend reprieve from rain means that any danger of flooding is unlikely to worsen.