Parts of Dublin that experienced flooding recently are most at risk again over the next 24 to 36 hours, Met Éireann has said.
A yellow rain warning was in place for Dublin from 9am until noon on Thursday, which then moved to an orange warning until 3pm on Friday.
Forecaster Gerry Murphy said higher rainfall totals will extend to Wicklow and south Dublin.
“The higher regions, the Dublin Mountains and parts of Dublin that have flooded recently will also be the most at risk of flooding over the next 24 to 36 hours,” he told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland.
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“It’s really the southern half of Dublin that this orange warning refers to simply because the higher ground is in south Dublin in conjunction with the Wicklow Mountains, so those impacts that may occur with Wicklow [and] south Dublin Mountains may have a knock-on effect at lower levels over the southern half of Dublin.”
Murphy acknowledged that not all the areas affected last week will experience the same conditions on Thursday and Friday.
“It may not affect all of them in the same way but nonetheless those are the areas that will be most at risk of flooding and ... people should be aware that this is actually going to be a lot of consistent, persistent rain,” he said.
“It may not be raining heavily all of the time but it will be very wet really from midmorning right the way through to tomorrow afternoon.
“It will be steady rain, sometimes light, sometimes heavy, but at the higher levels in the Wicklow Mountains [and] Dublin Mountains. Then obviously that will have an impact on some of the more responsive rivers, which will then have knock-on effects possibly further downstream with the possibility of south Dublin.”
Dublin City Council said its flood management team is continuing to respond to “ongoing adverse weather conditions and related impacts”.
The local authority is monitoring river levels and coastal conditions closely to ensure appropriate responses, it said.
“Dublin City Council are in regular contact with the National Emergency Co-ordination Group on all aspects of recent weather events.”
Car parks along coasts at Sandymount and Clontarf remain closed to protect against possible wave overtopping. The cycle lane at Clontarf will remain closed as a precautionary measure.
Eden Quay boardwalk will also remain closed as a precautionary measure. The flood gates along the river Dodder will remain closed until further notice.
“Our crews remain active across the city, making arrangements for possible events and responding to issues as they arise,” it added.
“Crews removal of debris at rivers racks and blockage clearing is ongoing to minimise negative impacts.”
The council said it maintains a limited supply of sandbags at strategic locations for use in response to identified flooding risks.
“These resources are deployed by the council where required, with priority given to critical infrastructure and locations assessed as being at immediate risk.”
The Road Safety Authority has called on people in the Dublin, Wicklow and Waterford areas to avoid driving today if they can.
Speaking on RTÉ radio’s Today with David McCullagh show, the RSA’s senior public relations manager David Martin said: “If you have to do your journey, give yourself some extra time, it’s going to take a little bit longer.
“The most important message is for drivers to slow down and allow greater braking distance between themselves and the vehicle in front in these very wet weather conditions.
“It can take more than twice as long to stop your car in these wet conditions, so give yourself twice as much space between yourself and the car in front, that’s our advice. It’s very important to do so on high speed roads such as dual carriageways or motorways where there is an increased danger of aquaplaning.
“Then of course take special care when you’re driving behind vehicles, heavy goods vehicles as they generate a huge amount of spray and that reduces your visibility, so to hold back on that and give yourself the extra bit of space.”
Martin’s advice for drivers on flooded roads was not to attempt to drive through the water.
