ALERT: Met Éireann warns outdoor events could be affected amid Yellow Alert for 4 counties

Met Éireann has warned that outdoor events may be affected this evening with a Status Yellow rain warning has been issued for four counties on the east coast.

The warning - for Dublin, Louth, Meath and Wicklow - will be in operation from 8pm tonight until 6am tomorrow.

The national weather forecaster said heavy rain and possibly thunderstorms could lead to spot flooding and difficult travelling conditions.

It warned that outdoor events could be impacted.

Hozier will play Dublin's Marlay Park tonight, slap bang in the middle of the weather warning.

Major sports events are also scheduled this weekend with the the All-Ireland Hurling Championship semi-final between Clare and Kilkenny in Croke Park to be played tomorrow afternoon.

Met Éireann has warned that heavy, scattered showers will merge to longer spells of rain in the north and east.

It forecast: "Continuing quite unsettled with rain or showers. Cool for the time of year over the weekend, though temperatures improving slightly in some parts for a time next week".

However there was some good news, as the rain will clear early on Saturday to leave a mostly dry morning with sunny spells, although further rain is expected later in the day, with temperatures of 13 to 17C.

The weather will continue to be unsettled over the rest of the weekend and is expected to stay cool. Temperatures could drop as low as 7 to 9 degrees on Sunday evening, when Arcade Fire will play a gig at Malahide Castle.