Flood warning for Leinster

Met Éireann has warned of possible flooding in parts of Leinster and east Munster today as heavy rain spreads westwards across the country.

A band of heavy rain which affected Wales and central England overnight pushed its way across the Irish Sea, with coastal counties of Leinster experiencing heavy downpours this morning and afternoon.

Rain has spread to all areas of Leinster but Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford have been worst affected. Met Éireann have recorded 15mm of rainfall in Wexford so far today, with 25 to 30mm expected in some areas by nightfall.

“Ground conditions are very saturated at the moment all over the country,” said Met Éireann meteorologist Vincent O’Shea.

“Water table levels are high which increases the risk of flooding, but we are not expecting the same level of heavy localised rainfall that caused flooding in Cork and Antrim last week,” he said.

Excess surface water is causing dangerous driving conditions on roads in the east of the country, particularly in Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny and Wicklow.

AA Roadwatch is advising motorists to use dipped headlights, reduce their speed and keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front.

Rain is more scattered in Connacht and west Ulster, with some spells of sunshine, though heavier showers are expected in these areas overnight, with a risk of thunder.

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Rain will clear from the east around 9pm this evening. It will be mild and humid, with temperatures reaching 21 or 22 degrees in some parts.

Some bright and sunny spells are expected in the south and east tomorrow, but the west and northwest of the country will experience scattered showers and heavy rain at times. Some parts of Ulster could be at risk from localised flooding.

The weather front which is affecting Ireland is also causing problems in Britain where the Environment Agency has issued a flood warning. It said the areas most likely to be hit by severe flooding include Derbyshire, Lancashire, South and West Yorkshire, Staffordshire, Greater Manchester, Blackburn, Blackpool, Warrington, Cheshire and Halton.

There are currently three flood warnings for potential river flooding and 89 less serious flood alerts in Britain, but the Environment Agency said many more were likely to be issued today in the face of the torrential rain.