NI Weather Alert: Met Office issues TWO severe weather warnings for NI - torrential rain, lightning strikes and flooding

The first yellow status warning is for thunderstorms and is active from 1.00pm to 10.00pm on Friday.

This weather warning only applies to counties Londonderry, Tyrone and Fermanagh.

"Heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop across the western side of Northern Ireland this afternoon, lasting into the evening," reads the warning on the Met Office website.

"Some places will miss the heavier downpours, but where they do occur 15-20 mm of rain could fall within an hour, a few places seeing 30-40 mm over a few hours."

The second yellow status warning is for rain and is active from 9.00am to 10.00pm on Saturday.

This weather warning applies to all of Northern Ireland.

"Although intense thunderstorms become less likely for most areas across Scotland and Northern Ireland, heavy showers and more prolonged rain will continue at times, still with the possibility of thunder," said the Met Office.

"These may bring 10-20 mm per hour for some places during Saturday, with perhaps 30-40 mm over a few hours.

"The ground is getting wetter now, so this may cause a few issues."