Warning as 50mm of rain, gales and floods forecast

Met Éireann has issued a weather warning for the next 24 hours with up to 50mm of rain forecast and gale force winds flooding possible in some areas.

The yellow level warning covers southern and eastern parts of Munster, much of Leinster and eastern parts of Ulster.

Meteorologists have forecast 25mm to 40mm of rainfall today with up to 50mm in mountainous areas. The rainfall may lead to flooding in some areas.

It has forecast “heavy rainfall” in many areas during the afternoon with “torrential downpours” and “spot flooding”.

Met Éireann also warned that coastal flooding may also take place along the south coast today due to strong to gale force onshore winds.

The forecasting body has also issued a yellow level warning for gale force south-easterly winds on all coasts and on the Irish Sea. Yellow is the lowest of three warnings levels which can be issued by Met Éireann and means people should “be aware”.

Met Éireann said rainfall will be heaviest in the south early today and will spread east later. Temperatures are to remain mild, at between 14 and 17 degrees.

This evening Met Eireann said there was excess surface water on the M50. It was slow during the evening commute following earlier crashes at junction 11 Tallaght and junction 9 Red Cow. “Slow down and take extreme care,” AA Roadwatch said of areas with excess surface water.

In the North, Trafficwatch NI advised motorists of excess surface water on the M1 and M2. “Slow down, use dipped headlights and keep your distance,” it tweeted.

This morning AA Roadwatch reported “wet and misty” roads around Limerick city, Cork city and Tralee, Co Kerry and very wet roads in Wicklow and Wexford.

The weekend forecast looks better than today with sunny spells and scattered showers anticipated tomorrow.

On Sunday there will be showers but many parts of the east and west will have dry spells and some sunshine, Met Éireann said.