Heavy rainfall set to continue

MORE heavy rainfall is being predicted for the weekend just 36 hours after flash flooding caused mayhem in sections of the country, and particularly Co Cork.

Met Éireann say that heavy rain is expected tonight and tomorrow. There is also a risk of thunder. While Sunday will bring a “mix of sunny spells and scattered showers,” some of these could be heavy, particularly on Sunday night.

The heavy rain over the past 48 hours led to temporary road closures in counties Limerick, Clare, Waterford, Kilkenny, Wicklow and Wexford and council crews spent yesterday clearing drains and attempting to relieve flooding.

In Cork, clean-up operations were taking place yesterday in Kinsale, Carrigaline and Passage West after an estimated 17mm of rain fell in just 24 hours.

Traffic on the N25 South Ring Road near the city ground to a halt on Wednesday evening while sections of the Rochestown Road and Church St in Blackrock were under water.

There was flooding and road closures in Crosshaven, Carrigaline, Passage West, Midleton, Dunderrow, Riverstick, Kinsale, Glenbrook and Monkstown, while the Automobile Association (AA) said a mudslide blocked two roads in Belgooly.

A river also burst its banks at Ballyshonnen, near Kanturk.

Shopowners in Kinsale were complaining that much of their pre-Christmas stock had been damaged while in Carrigaline, civil defence units were directing traffic as the Carrigaline to Crosshaven Road was flooded. It’s also reported that people had to be rescued from their cars outside the town.

“The AA Breakdown Service received a huge increase in the volume of calls from Cork, most of which were as a result of people driving through high water and flooding their engine,” added Nicola Hudson, AA Roadwatch Controller. “Drivers are urged to avoid driving through flood waters at all costs, you are better off turning around and taking another route.”

The AA is advising motorists to keep their engine revs high and speed low.

“If you choose to travel in the flood spot, go slowly enough to avoid drowning the electrics or losing grip. After passing through particularly deep water, test your brakes to make sure no damage has occurred,” she said.