Homeowners and motorists on alert over severe weather

MOTORISTS and homeowners have been put on the alert after forecasters said the heavy rain and gale force winds battering the country are expected to continue until at least tomorrow.

Met Éireann has warned of coastal flooding in eastern counties, which are liable to suffer the heaviest rainfall.

The forecasters issued a severe weather warning yesterday, saying that up to 70mm of rain could fall by Tuesday, leading to flooding in some places and concerns that the November 2009 floods could be repeated.

Emergency services in many towns, cities and counties labelled potential flood zones were on standby from yesterday morning to deal with any problems caused by the downpours.

In Cork, the city’s fire brigade attended severe flooding on the northside in Hollyhill and on the North Ring Road in Mayfield yesterday afternoon.

The situation has been compounded by strong winds which battered the country overnight, just weeks after unseasonable warmth was reported across almost all areas of Ireland.

South-easterly gales and gusts of 80 to 110km/h in exposed places were expected to continue until early today.

The rains, which began to take their toll yesterday morning, prompted an alert from gardaí for motorists to take extreme caution.

Roads in many parts of the country were waterlogged and, with similar dangerous conditions possible for another 24 hours, drivers are being asked to allow extra time for journeys and keep their lights on.

The heavy rain is expected to continue in many parts of the country today, with eastern coastal counties most at risk, and local and coastal flooding is likely as a result of between 30 and 50mm in places.

However, parts of the south-west and west could have a drier day, with even a chance of sunny spells.

The rest of the country should turn dry tomorrow and rain is expected to steer clear of Ireland then until Friday, apart from some showers in western and northern counties. But frosts are due to affect many areas as night time temperatures slip to 2C to 4C for the next three nights.

The October bank holiday weekend promises to be unsettled but mild, according to Met Éireann.

The reality of the dangers caused by the weather conditions were underlined near Cork harbour yesterday evening when the Crosshaven RNLI lifeboat rushed to the assistance of a kayaker who had become capsized in Cork harbour.

The man and his kayak were brought to safety by a three-person crew on the volunteer vessel. A number of cars also collided in a minor weather-related incident in the Rochestown area of Cork city just after 6pm.