Wind and rain take toll on south coast

While the predicted hurricane conditions did not materialise yesterday, heavy rain and gale-force winds left a number of roads around the country impassable for a time due to flooding.

From early yesterday morning, southern counties were buffeted by the gales and driving rain.

By rush hour, a number of major roads in Cork, including the Dublin-Cork motorway between Fermoy and Mitchelstown as well as parts of the motorway in Tipperary, the Kinsale Rd Roundabout, the Cork-Bandon Road, the N25 at Carrigtwohill and Main St in Midleton. were all covered by a thick layer of water.

There was also localised flooding in Dungarvan and Tramore in Waterford.

The disruption was not confined to the roads. A number of fishing vessels had to take shelter in their nearest harbour, and a luxury liner which had been due to dock in Cobh cancelled its landing because of the blustery conditions. It proceeded onto its next destination in Amsterdam.

The first band of wind and rain gradually spread northwards across the country, causing major traffic disruption in various parts.

“It was a hideous morning in Cork and from early on we were being called out to cars that had been trapped in flood water,” said Noel Keogh, head of AA Rescue.

“By lunchtime, the picture in Munster was improving, but we had major problems with both the heavy rain and extensive traffic gridlock in Dublin. There were motorists who found themselves causing traffic jams as their cars broke down. This is something that we are well used to, but we would like to warn motorists again of just how easy it is to do expensive damage to your car in flood water.”

Met Éireann has warned there will be a spell of heavy, thundery rain along the south coast around lunchtime today and it will become widespread by nightfall, with some flash flooding in places.