Severe weather closes roads
Forecasters are predicting rain will sweep eastwards across the country accompanied by strong southerly winds, which will reach gale force in exposed areas.
But there will be a major clearance by Thursday morning and temperatures will plummet to as low as 2 degrees, which may lead to a slight ground frost in some inland areas.
AA Roadwatch recorded numerous reports of flooding yesterday, especially across Mayo, Galway, Sligo, Donegal and Roscommon.
Flooded road surfaces were also reported in Westmeath, Clare, Wicklow, Kerry and Cork.
Meanwhile, yesterday afternoon saw a sprinkling of snow on the McGillycuddy Reeks and the Galtees.
The N71 Killarney-Kenmare Road through Molls Gap was among the worst-affected roads in Kerry and was closed due to flooding at the Five Mile Bridge.
Other roads that were flooded included some in the Currow area, the Killarney to Gneeveguilla road and the Gneeveguilla to Rathmore road.
There was also flooding at Skehanaugh in Tralee, and gardaí urged motorists to drive with caution on all roads throughout the county.
Kerry County Council, meanwhile, is assessing fresh damage to roads which follows road damage estimated at €250,000 caused by flooding already this winter in the Caherciveen and Dingle areas.
However, the council has also said a lack of government funding is making it highly unlikely that flood relief works will be carried out on the county’s 4,713km road network.
There was some minor flooding recorded in Bandon, Co Cork, and other parts of West Cork. The ESB released water from the Inniscarra dam to reduce the risk of flooding upstream.
