Met Éireann issue rainfall warning for 19 counties, with a side of snow

Met Éireann have issued a new weather warning covering almost all of Ireland.

This morning's status yellow rainfall warning follows on from a warning that was already in effect, affecting 15 counties. The counties affected by the latest warning are: Galway, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Clare and Tipperary. There is also the possibility of snow and sleet in some parts of the country, with Met Éireann advising: "The rain is likely to be preceded by a period of sleet and snow in parts of Connacht, Ulster and north Leinster, before turning to rain later in the night." Sadly, the inevitable rain means there's no chance of it sticking. The latest barrage of rain follows several other periods of heavy precipitation, meaning that the ground is saturated at the moment, and river levels are elevated. The combined effect of rainfall and snow melt may lead to some localised surface and river flooding, say Met Éireann. The warning will remain in place for 12 hours, between 8pm this evening (23 February) and 8am on Monday.