New warning from Met Éireann for thunderstorms and heavy downpours

After a week of dry and extremely hot weather, Met Éireann has issued a new weather warning for thunderstorms and heavy downpours which it said could lead to "localised flooding" and hazardous driving conditions this afternoon and evening.

The yellow-level warning is in place for the 26 counties from 1.13pm to 8pm today (Friday), with Roscommon, Offaly, Laois, Tipperary, Kildare, Wicklow, Clare, Galway and Mayo the counties "most at risk" according to the forecaster.

A separate high temperature warning also remains in place for each county up until 9am tomorrow (Saturday).

The Met Éireann weather station in Mount Dillon, Roscommon, recorded the highest temperature in the country - 30.7 degrees Celsius - yesterday.