More rainfall warnings issued after flooding disrupts travel

Heavy rainfall is expected to continue overnight tonight with up to 60mm of rain forecast for parts of Leinster, Cavan and Monahan before 6am tomorrow, Met Éireann has said.

An orange (second highest level) warning was issued early today. Between 25 and 40 mm of rain had already fallen by 6am this morning, leading to flooding in many areas.

Counties Tipperary and Waterford are also at risk of localised flooding tonight, with up to 50mm of rain likely to accumulate in places.

Gardaí have urged motorists to exercise extreme caution when driving as conditions in Leinster are “treacherous”, with excess surface water affecting many roads including the M1 motorway in Dublin.

Dublin City Council says it “will be monitoring rivers and streams throughout the city and will mobilise crews to deal with possible flooding incidents throughout the city”.

Dart services have returned south of Dun Laoghaire after earlier disruption for about four hours this morning due to flooding between Greystones/Bray and Dun Laoghaire.

Flooding has subsided in many areas. Earlier today gardaí reported flooding on several Dublin roads including the M1 at junction four Donabate. There was also flooding reported at Santry Village, the coast road near Raheny and Clontarf, Collins Avenue East, at Achill Road in Ballybrack and Barnhill Road in Dalkey.

Several road incidents have been reported including a two car collision on the N3 in Co Meath and a crash on the Ballymun Rd near St Margaret’s Rd in Dublin.

Two prisoners had to be moved from Ballymun Garda station in Dublin this morning due to flooding in the station, gardai said.

The weekend’s weather prospects improve from tomorrow with dry, sunny spells forecast for most of the country. In the south temperatures are expected reach 18 or 19 degrees. In Ulster rain is to continue with highest temperatures of 14 to 15 degrees.

Monday will be the best day of the weekend, staying mainly dry with sunny spells and highs of 18 to 21 degrees, Met Eireann has forecast.