Flights delayed due to heavy winds and rain

A number of Irish flights faced delays on Friday due to the heavy rain and winds. In Dublin Airport several flights arriving and departing the airport were delayed for periods of time.

In a statement Aer Lingus said the airline had implemented a “robust operations plan” to deal with the heavy winds and rain. On Friday afternoon, the airline said a number of flights were “currently experiencing delays due to airport runway congestion”.

The congestion in Dublin Airport was due to a change of runway to “accommodate wind conditions,” the airline said.

On Friday morning, Met Éireann issued a number of status yellow weather warnings for counties across the State, for heavy rain and strong winds throughout the day.

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The national forecaster issued a status yellow rain alert for Dublin, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow, Galway, Mayo, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford starting from 6am on Friday and remaining in place until 6pm.

It warned that the wet and windy weather, which brought heavy rain, would become widespread through the morning and that strong and gusty southeast winds could bring strong gales on exposed coasts.

The rain was heaviest in the west and south during the first half of the day and spread to the east in the afternoon.

Heavy showers were also expected in the southwest later in the afternoon while the rain was forecast to continue in the west, with temperatures ranging from 9 to 12 degrees Celsius.

Wind warnings

Met Éireann also issued status yellow wind warnings for Munster, Connacht, Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal with gusts of 90 to 110km/hr in some places. These gusts were expected to be stronger in exposed coastal areas and on higher ground.

A status yellow wind warning for Munster and Connacht had been issued from 4am on Friday and remained in place until 3pm, while the wind warning for the rest of the country ran between 8am and 7pm on Friday.

A status yellow weather alert urges people to “be aware” and is issued when conditions do not pose an immediate threat to the general population but could pose a threat to those exposed to risk because of their location or activity.

The last of the rain is expected to clear to the north on Friday night with some scattered showers to follow and more heavy rain in the west. Winds will also moderate overnight and temperatures will drop to 4 degrees.

Saturday will see some sunny spells and scattered showers with heavy rain in the west and temperatures ranging from 8 to 10 degrees Celsius. The scattered showers will continue into Saturday evening.

Further sunny spells and scattered showers are expected on Sunday, with most of the rain in the west of the country.