Weather warning issued for heavy rainfall in Offaly tonight

Met Éireann has issued a yellow-level warning for heavy rain across the Midlands tonight.

The national forecasting service said the warning would come into effect from 10pm tonight (Thursday) and would remain in place for six hours, until 4am on Friday.

The warning is in place for eight counties: Offaly, Westmeath, Roscommon, Longford, Clare, Galway, Louth and Meath.

Met Éireann said the heavy rain would be spreading northeastwards across the country, and had the potential to bring some localised flooding and difficult travelling conditions.

The is the latest of several Met Éireann warnings to be issued during what has been a damp squib of a summer, weather-wise.