Thunder showers likely to persist in coming days

The torrential thunder showers that caused flooding and other damage in Dublin and Cork are likely to persist over the coming days, according to Met Éireann.

Heavy rain was mostly centred over north Leinster and Ulster yesterday, with the Dunsany weather station in Meath recording 32.3mm in the hour to midday, more than half the average monthly rainfall for July.

Meteorologist Jean Byrne said the same kind of heavy thundery showers can be expected today over the midlands and north, and tomorrow in the west and south-west of the country.

“The risk of thunder showers will be in smaller bands than recent days. So for both days, some areas could have a charmed existence with a chance of sunny spells and temperatures back up to 21, even reaching 23 degrees,” she said.

But there could still be some flash flooding like that already seen this week, due to heavy rainfalls over short periods.

Met Éireann had predicted heavy, thundery and torrential downpours earlier on Wednesday evening ahead of the damage caused by floods in Cork and Dublin. Cork County Council has urged people to sign up for its free alert service that sends text messages to subscribers about severe weather or other events in their areas.

More thundery showers expected Sunday and Monday as low pressure drifts across the south and south-east.

“Tuesday could be horrible, with widespread heavy rain starting from the south-west, pushing in from the Atlantic,” Ms Byrne warned.