Yellow rain warning in place for Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford
Kenneth Fox
As Cork and Kerry begin to recover from the damage done by Storm Babet, a new yellow rain warning is in place for Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford this morning.
Met Éireann is warning of heavy bursts of rain or showers overnight and through Friday morning coupled with waterlogged soils and high river levels.
They said it is likely to lead to localised flooding and dangerous travelling conditions.
The warning is valid from 12:07am to 9am on Friday morning.
Another status yellow rain warning also comes into effect on Friday for Dublin, Louth, Meath, Wicklow and Kerry.
The forecaster is predicting heavy rain or showers with a chance of thunder. They are also warning of flooding and dangerous driving conditions.
The warning is valid from 9am on Friday until 9pm this evening.
On Thursday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government would be offering a financial package to support people whose homes and businesses were damaged in floods during Storm Babet.
Mr Varadkar visited some of those worst hit by the storm in Midleton, Co Cork, during a major clean-up operation to deal with the aftermath of flooding that swamped several towns and villages in Ireland.
“It’s very, very hard to know what to say. I visited a few places affected by floods in the past but this is particularly bad,” he said.
“Water levels rose very high, the water came very quickly, and of course, a lot of the water is dirty. So a lot of damage done here is to homes as well.
“But we’re not just here as a Government to just to express solidarity, we’re here to help."
Met Éireann said slow moving downpours in parts of the west and southwest will ease for a time with some brighter spells, but rain will linger near some coasts.
Heavy spells of rain over Ulster will spread into north Leinster this morning and other areas during the afternoon and early evening , heavy at times with some localised flooding possible.
Some drier brighter spells will return to the north by the end of the day. Afternoon temperatures of 10 to 15 degrees, coolest in northern areas. Strong and gusty winds in the east, north and far southwest. Winds will be lighter in other areas.
Saturday will be a day of bright spells and some scattered showers or patchy rain in parts. However, a lot of dry weather for many. Maximum temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees in a moderate north to northwesterly breeze decreasing light.
They said the overall national outlook will be very mixed weather with temperatures near normal.
It looks set to be dry for many on Sunday with plenty of autumnal sunshine and just the odd passing shower. However, during the late afternoon and evening some showery rain is expected to spread into the west and south which could turn heavy or thundery in places.
Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in light to moderate, variable or southeasterly winds.
Showers or longer spells of rain, heavy or possibly thundery in parts, will affect Munster, and parts of Connacht and Leinster, on Sunday night with the chance of localised flooding in places. It will hold drier elsewhere with some scattered showers. Winds will be light with some mist and fog.