A status yellow rainfall warning has been issued by Met Eireann for Munster and Leinster, with up to 40mm of rain expected to fall.

The warning was issued for earlier today and it is expected to be valid from just after midnight tonight until 9:00pm tomorrow (Wednesday, November 22).

Heavy rain is forecast to move up from the south overnight and it is set to clear later Wednesday. Accumulations of between 30mm and 40mm are expected, but larger totals are possible on high ground.

Looking at the week in general, cold and misty conditions are expected to dominate as temperatures could drop to below freezing, according to Met Eireann.

Tomorrow is set to be cold in the west and north of the country – temperatures will range from 5º to 6º, but values of above 11º will be possible in others areas. The rain will become more showery as the day progresses.

It is forecast to be cold and windy tomorrow night with some rain or sleet for a time. Lowest temperatures will drop to between 0 and 3º, with the risk some icy roads in spite of the wind. There will also a risk of snow in some hill and mountain areas.

Conditions for spraying and drying are set to be poor over the coming week due to frequent rain, drizzle and showers.

Most soils are close to saturation at the moment, with poorly drained soils waterlogged. No great change is expected over the next seven days, Met Eireann added.