Heavy rain and strong winds cause delays for commuters

Commuters faced delays this morning as the weather took a decided turn for the worse, post-budget day.

In Dublin, traffic was very heavy on the M50 this morning and there was flooding on the Swords Road and the northside quays in the city centre.

In Cork, surface water and heavy rain has resulted in two collisions on the South Ring Road westbound before the Kinsale Road roundabout. The two collisions have since been cleared. Traffic is also heavy from the Mahon direction towards the Jack Lynch tunnel.

Met Eireann has issued a gale warning as south-westerly winds will reach gale force to strong gale force this morning and early this afternoon on coasts from Carlingford Lough to Carnsore Point to Roche's Point and on the Irish Sea.

Meanwhile, fallen leaves on rail tracks have cause train delays for some commuters. “Leaf fall in autumn often causes poor rail head conditions and can affect performance in a number of ways.

When leaves fall on to the line, particularly in damp or wet weather, the rolling action of passing wheels compresses them, causing a greasy ‘mulch’ to cover the rail,” said Irish Rail.

Forecasters have issued a yellow weather warning today, with heavy rainfall forecast for Munster, Leinster, Connacht, Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan. Rainfall accumulations of 20 to 30mm across the country last night and today with a risk of 30 to 40mm rain set to fall in mountainous areas and parts of Leinster.

Heavy rain in parts of the south and west will spread nationwide this morning and afternoon. There will be the risk of localised flooding with some very heavy downpours.

Later this morning a clearance to showers will develop in the southwest and this will slowly spread to Ulster by this evening.

Sunny spells will develop but the showers will be heavy with highs today of 12 to 16 degrees in windy conditions, especially along the south and east coasts.

With the worst of the weather expected in Munster and Connacht and parts of Ulster, motorists, cyclists and pedestrians are urged to take extra care in the hazardous conditions.