Met Éireann warns of flooding risk in four counties

Met Éireann has issued two status yellow weather warnings for rain in the west of the country, as well as a general “advisory” for localised flooding as the forecast is for further rain until Sunday at least.

In the first of its weather warnings, the forecaster said rain was expected to be “persistent and heavy” in parts of Cork and Kerry.

The yellow warning, the lowest of three possible alerts from Met Éireann, says the conditions will lead to localised flooding in these areas. It is valid from 11am on Thursday to 5am on Friday.

The second yellow warning is for rain which is expected to be “heavy over a short period of time” in counties Galway and Mayo. It is valid from 5pm on Thursday until 1am on Friday.

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In addition, Met Éireann has issued a marine warning for small craft warning for force 6 winds or higher on all coasts of Ireland, until midday on Thursday.

A second marine warning has been issued for small craft on coastal waters from Carlingford Lough to Carnsore Point, to Valentia from Thursday afternoon to 9am on Friday.

The warnings follow a more general weather “advisory” for potentially dangerous conditions including further flooding across the country over the coming days.

Met Éireann forecaster Andrew Doran-Sherlock said following downpours in recent days there was a real possibility of further flooding – particularly in the southwest, but also in other areas as a band of rain moves in from the Atlantic and passes northwards across the country. He said soils were already saturated from heavy rain over the past week.

Mr Doran-Sherlock’s comments come as the clean-up continues in Wexford town which on Christmas Day was hit by the worst flooding in 62 years. Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has promised Government support for flooded businesses in Wexford saying the Humanitarian Support Scheme for Small Business “will be opened if required in response to flooding in Wexford”.

Met Éireann’s general forecast for the coming days said Wednesday to until midnight on Friday into Saturday would bring spells of rain and high winds which is also expected to make conditions difficult and potentially hazardous for those out walking over the holiday period.

New Year’s Eve looks set to offer some respite as remaining rain in the north will continue to clear northeastwards giving way to drier and brighter conditions with just scattered patches of drizzle and sunny spells developing.

It will be mild and blustery, especially with fresh to strong and gusty west winds.

New Year’s Day, however, looks set to revert to unsettled conditions with rain and drizzle through the morning giving way to some showers in the afternoon.

It will be a mild, start to 2022 with highest temperatures of 12 to 14 degrees and moderate to fresh south-to-southwest winds. On Saturday night, there is a possibility of heavy rain for a time in the south and southeast of the country.

Sunday will be a brighter day with sunshine and scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees with moderate southwest winds, fresher in coastal areas.

Early indications suggest that Monday and Tuesday of next week will be colder with fresh, gusty northwest winds and occasional showers.