Heavy rain warning extended to more counties as Met Éireann predicts flooding

Tomas Doherty

Southern counties are braced for heavy rain and flooding on Sunday as Met Éireann issued a status-orange weather warning.

The alert affects Cork, Waterford, Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford.

In Cork and Waterford, the warning is in place from 8am on Sunday until 6pm. In Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford, the alert comes into force at 1pm on Sunday and lasts until midnight.

Met Éireann is warning of heavy rain with some intense and thundery downpours, leading to a risk of flooding, dangerous driving conditions and travel disruption.

A separate status-yellow warning for rain will take effect in Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford and Wicklow from late on Saturday until Monday morning.

All of Munster will be under a status-yellow alert for wind and rain from 5am on Sunday until 8pm. Heavy rain is set to be accompanied by strong and gusty winds.

Cork County Council’s severe weather assessment team met on Saturday and said its crews will continue to monitor the situation throughout the weekend.

The Road Safety Authority advised road users in areas affected by the orange warning to check local traffic and weather conditions before setting out on a journey.

Despite the expected deluge on Sunday, Met Éireann forecasters said conditions are set to improve early next week as high pressure develops.

Monday will be mostly cloudy with rain or showers, though it will become drier and brighter in the south through the afternoon, according to Met Éireann.

Tuesday will then be mostly dry with sunny spells at times and temperatures reaching 13 to 16 degrees.