Weather warning for rain and thunder across NI as The Open golfers tee off

A weather warning for heavy rain and thunder has been issued across Northern Ireland on Tuesday.

The Met Office has warned of possible disruption between 11:00 and 17:00 BST with a risk of flooding due to heavy downpours and thunderstorms.

Some locations could see up to 40mm of rain within a few hours, with up to 20mm falling in less than an hour in the most intense spells.

It comes as thousands of people are in Portrush to watch the world's top golfers tee off in the official practice session of The Open Championship.

Early arrivals at Royal Portrush were met with wet and blustery conditions, but the weather should gradually improve through Tuesday afternoon.

Wednesday is set to bring a welcome weather improvement, with dry and sunnier weather to make it the most spectator-friendly day of the week.

A return to unsettled weather is expected as the tournament gets under way.

Heavy, and possibly thundery, showers are forecast for Thursday, with similar conditions on Saturday and Sunday.

Friday is expected to offer some brief respite, with fewer showers in the forecast.

The warning follows a band of heavy rain moving in from the west, with thunderstorms expected to develop late morning and into the afternoon.

Isolated incidents of hail and lightning could accompany the worst of the storms, which should clear east by early evening.

Surface spray, standing water and hail may cause difficult driving conditions and longer journey times.

There is also a risk of flooding to a few homes and businesses, which could cause damage to buildings or structures.

The Met Office has also warned of short term loss of power and other services.