Weather warning upgraded for severe overnight rain and thunder

Just a few hours after it issued a yellow-level rainfall warning for counties including Westmeath and Offaly, Met Éireann has upgraded it to the more severe orange-level warning.

"Heavy rainfall with embedded thunderstorms is likely to cause flooding," said the national forecaster.

The warning comes into effect from 11pm tonight and will last for eight hours, until 7am on Friday.

Sixteen counties are in the area affected by the orange-level warning, including all of Leinster.