Flood alert as Big Thaw arrives

THE Big Freeze has became the Big Thaw — putting the country on flood alert after a spectacular rise of up to 19C in daytime temperatures plus heavy rain.

Met Éireann warned of floods due to a dramatic thaw, with temperatures shooting up from recent daytime highs as low as a bitter -9C, to 8C on Sunday and 10C yesterday.

A Met Éireann forecast said with the expected snow melt coupled with heavy rain, there will be some local spot flooding.