More rain expected across the country

Householders were tonight bracing themselves for another deluge of rain as forecasters predicted heavy showers across the country.

As the clean-up operation from the weekend’s freak flash floods continued, Met Eireann warned that 25-50mm of rain could fall again.

Showers are expected to be heaviest in the western half of the country today and in Munster, Leinster and Ulster tonight. There is also a risk of more localised flooding.

A spokesman for Dublin City Council said they were not expecting the same heavy downpours that caused chaos in parts of Dublin and Kildare over the weekend.

Some 76.2mm of rain was recorded at Dublin Airport in a 24 hour period from midnight on Friday, a new record for August.

It is estimated millions of euros worth of damage was caused when monsoon-like rain and a high-tide caused drains to block-up.

Motorists were rescued from trapped cars and hundreds of houses were damaged after record levels of rainfall.

Fire officers handled an unprecedented 600 flood calls in the capital, including dramatic reports from motorists trapped in their cars as waters rose around them.

One vehicle was swept down a road in a torrent of flood water.

Met Eireann said further heavy rain is expected in Ulster tomorrow with showers moving across the country on Wednesday and Thursday.