Munster and Leinster on flood alert ahead of storm

Munster and east Leinster are this morning bracing themselves for severe flooding as high winds and heavy rain buffet the country.

Just over six weeks after 150 houses and 200 commercial properties were severely damaged by a deluge in Co Cork, Met Éireann yesterday issued another warning saying up to 50mm of rain could fall causing yet more chaos for the region.

The warning was issued for midnight last night, to continue until midnight tonight.

“A combination of high winds, heavy rainfall, abnormally low pressure and high tides will cause dangerous conditions in south Munster and east Leinster during Wednesday,” Met Éireann said in a statement. “Gale to strong gale force easterly winds, later veering southeasterly to southerly, will occur.

“Frequent spells of rain will result in accumulations of 30mm to 50mm generally, with higher totals possible in mountainous areas. There will be a high risk of coastal and river flooding.”

Cork county engineer Noel O’Keeffe said staff were on full alert from yesterday evening. He said as the warning was very general, it was hard to identify which areas, if any, could be impacted by flooding but he said a close eye would be kept on the main areas affected last time — Douglas, Glanmire, Ballyvolane and Clonakilty. He said one positive is that there are “neap” tides which are less of a threat than spring tides.

One of the biggest risk periods could be between 6am and noon today, when up to one inch of rain is expected to fall and a high tide expected at 10am. There will be a second high tide at 11pm.

As of last night, 30mm of rain was expected to fall today at Cork Airport and 45mm is expected to fall at Dunmanway.

Mr O’Keeffe said homeowners and property owners should be vigilant and, if in a risk area, should protect valuable stock as much as possible.

The coastguard said the public should not go out on exposed coasts, cliffs, piers, harbour walls, beaches, promenades or any other coastal areas during the inclement weather, as huge waves can be whipped up by high seas.

Declan Geoghegan, manager of the Irish Coast Guard, said: “Do not attempt to cross at fast running river or flood water fords as they may be stronger and deeper than you think. Flooded urban areas may contain many hazards, not least of which include submerged open manholes and downed power lines. The combination of tides, forecasted gale warnings for the next day or so, high sea conditions and swollen rivers may result in very dangerous conditions.”