Drivers warned over flooding

LUKE CASSIDY

Drivers have been warned to take care tonight due to heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the country.

Met Éireann has issued a weather warning, said heavy rain will be widespread tonight and tomorrow, with some very heavy falls in places and a risk of further flooding, particularly in the southwest and west. Southerly winds will gust up to 110km/h in some exposed places, it said.

The rain will clear tomorrow night, and Friday will be a bright cool day. However, heavy rain will spread to all parts on Friday night and will continue for much of Saturday.

Road Safety Authority (RSA) chief executive Noel Brett warned motorists that wet roads will affect braking and urged them to keep their distance.

“The biggest danger is particularly wet surfaces which could cause aquaplaning or worse loss of control if the vehicle is travelling too fast,” he said. “And secondly, driving on dual carriageways and busier roads, the spray from other vehicles can cause poor visibility. People also need to be aware of water lying on the roads.”

The RSA advised motorists to drive with dipped headlights at all times, watch out for fallen debris and powerful cross winds.

Weather conditions last night were hazardous, with thunder, lightning and torrential rain across Galway city and county. Roads in the west and the midlands are the most affected.

Road users in Co Galway have been warned that all unnecessary travel should be postponed until the weather improves and drivers in Cos Mayo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Donegal, Monaghan, Cavan and Louth have also been urged to take considerable caution.

AA Roadwatch warned drivers in Co Tipperary the N7 Dublin/Limerick Rd is closed until further notice on the Dublin side of Roscrea following a serious incident there. A diversion is in place for those heading west.

Drivers are also advised that the N17 is still closed between Claregalway and the Font where the Corrib River burst its banks. Gardaí are diverting traffic via Parkmore but long delays have been reported. There is also a lot of surface water in the Abbeyknockmoy and Monivea areas.

A stop-go system is in place the N5 Mayo to Dublin road at Bellavary due to flooding and there is a lot of surface water on all roads around Castlebar.

Flooding has also been reported on the N18 Clare to Galway road on the Gort side of Crusheen Village and on the N61 Roscommon to Boyle road near Four Mile House.

In Louth the Castleblaney road out of Dundalk is impassable due to flooding at Hackballs Cross and diversions are in place.

There is excess surface water on roads in Ballyshannon town in Co Donegal and around Navan in Co Meath.

In Cavan, the Bailieborough/Cotehill Road (R191) is closed with local diversions in place and surface water on the N3 Dublin to Cavan Road at Tara na Rí near Navan.

There is flooding on the N68 Kilrush Road into Ennis, Co Clare.

Iarnród Éireann has also advised customers that bus transfers are in operation between Carrick-on-Shannon and Longford on the Sligo-Dublin route due to flooding on the line near Strokestown.

All Swift sailings on the Dublin to Holyhead route were cancelled today due to the adverse weather conditions.