Gales and rain are set to continue

The heavy rains and gale-force winds that have swept most of the State since the weekend, leading to flooding in some parts, are set to continue through today, Met Éireann has said.

Dublin, Cork and Kerry have been worst hit by the rains, with all three counties recording rainfall of up to 50 millimetres. Parts of the south midlands were also badly affected, with rainfall of 20 to 30 millimetres.

"There's been decent falls of rain over a lot of the country over the last two days," Mr Michael McAuliffe of Met Éireann said. "And there will be rain in most parts, not constantly, but heavy enough for the risk of flooding."

The rain is set to finally clear eastwards this evening and tonight, leading to clearer, brighter weather in the west and northwest, extending to the rest of the country.

Tomorrow will be bright, with a few scattered showers. However, the weather is set to deteriorate again from Thursday, with more heavy rains and low temperatures.

"There will be more rain, not in enormous quantities, but it will be persistent and it will feel more like early winter than autumn," Mr McAuliffe said.

The rainfall has been far above normal for this time of year in all parts of the country, but particularly in the east, Mr McAuliffe said.

"Even if there was no more rain for the rest of the month, and there will be more, the rainfall is already twice the average for October," he added.

The change in the weather has been very sudden this year, Mr McAuliffe said. "It was only recently we were talking about an Indian summer", he noted.