THUNDERSTORMS are forecast to batter the district in the early part of next week.

The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for much of the country, which is in place between 6am on Monday through to midnight.

The storms will break the extremely warm weather the country is currently experiencing. 

Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Jason Kelly said: “The current hot weather will make way for a thundery breakdown from the west, which will spread south and east in the early part of next week.

"Ahead of this, isolated but intense thunderstorms are possible Sunday and Monday. 

“The warnings highlight the chance of some places seeing around 50mm of rain falling in a three-hour period in the north, with some areas further south possibly seeing around 30mm of rain in a three-hour period.

"Hail and frequent lightning are also possible as part of these downpours and represents an additional hazard.  

“We’re continuing to monitor how these thundery showers develop on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.

"There’s a chance of some quite intense downpours at times for some areas and we’re refining the likely location of these in the coming days.”