Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow weather warning for rainfall in several counties in the east of the country.

The national forecaster has said that rain will become heavy at times and persistent in Dublin; Louth; Meath; Wexford; and Wicklow tonight (Tuesday, April 15).

The heavy rain could lead to spot flooding in parts.

The warning will be valid from 9:00p.m tonight until 2:00p.m tomorrow (Wednesday, April 16).

The UK Met Office has also issued a similar warning for Northern Ireland where persistent and at times heavy rain will bring some disruption to travel and the potential for local flooding.

That warning will be in place from 2:00a.m until 9:00p.m on Wednesday.

Met Éireann has said that low pressure is expected to dominate our weather over the coming week.

As a result, there will be more mixed and unsettled conditions compared to recently with above average rainfall expected.

Most places will see between 30 and 50mm of rain, which is between 1.5 and 3 times the average rainfall.

This coming week will see temperatures ranging close to average or within a degree of it, with mean air temperatures ranging from 8 to 10°C.

Soil temperatures are expected to remain above normal but will decline a little.

Drying conditions will be moderate or poor this week due to showers with more persistent and widespread rain expected later this week. Spraying opportunities will also be limited.

Met Éireann said that all soils are trafficable at the moment, with soil moisture deficits (SMDs) ranging from 23mm to 43mm.

SMDs will decrease this week, particularly in the northwest, as there will be showers and rain at times, but most well drained soils will remain trafficable.

Moderate and poorly drained soils are likely to become saturated or waterlogged in some parts of the country from Friday.