Flash floods cause travel chaos
Motorists are being urged to drive with extreme care this morning as many roads are awash with water after flash flooding.
Met Eireann said its Dublin Airport station noted record levels of rain over the 24-hour period between Friday and last night at 76.2mm.
The previous record was 73mm in 1986 associated with Hurricane Charlie and the average August rate is 71.1mm.
Torrential downpours caused chaos in the capital last night with many roads impassable.
A massive clean-up operation is under way this morning and gardai are warning drivers to avoid various routes.
The N3 at Blanchardstown is closed in both directions.
The southbound lane of the Port Tunnel is also shut to traffic.
The M1 at Shantalla Bridge was expected to remain closed for most of the morning.
Kilkenny, Cork and Kildare fans travelling to the gaelic games clashes in Croke Park were urged to avoid the M50, expect delays and leave plenty of time for their journey.
Elsewhere, in Laois a river burst its banks along the Ballyroan to Portlaoise Road at Cashel Cross.
The 8am Stena Line sailing between Rosslare and Fishguard was cancelled due to the bad weather, but most services are largely back to normal.
“Due to heavy downpours in parts there is a lot of surface water to contend with,” an AA spokesperson said.
“Drive with extreme care, slow down, stay a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you and be vigilant.”
The torrential rain caused chaos for commuters around the capital yesterday.
Dart, commuter and northern-bound train services were affected at Malahide while areas outside Croke Park were also underwater.
The unseasonable weather forced the cancellation today of racing at the Curragh and of the Tullamore Agricultural Show for the second year running.
A notice from the show organisers said: “Due to the unprecedented amount of rain that has fallen over the last 24 hours, the current state of the showgrounds, the health and safety of visitors and the welfare of show animals the executive committee are bitterly disappointed to announce that this year’s Tullamore Show and AIB National Livestock Show has been cancelled.”
And there is little let-up in the miserable weather with Met Eireann forecasting today to be a mix of bright and showery conditions.
Tomorrow heavy rain in the west will spread to all areas by mid-morning, with a risk of thunder and localised flooding.
Conditions will remain unsettled for most of the week with temperatures struggling to make the high-teens by Wednesday and Thursday.
