Flood areas experience four-times normal weekly rainfall

Some of the areas worst hit by floods have been washed out after almost four times the normal rainfall fell in the last seven days.

Claremorris, Co Mayo was the worst affected by 101mm in the last week – almost four times its average for this time of year – while Knock Airport was hit by the same high levels.

Roches Point in Cork 60mm, Shannon Airport 60mm and Johnstown Castle in Wexford 80mm all recorded about three times higher than the usual for a week in mid-November.

Met Eireann data revealed Claremorris has suffered twice its average this month.

Cork Airport was hit by 192mm since November 1 when the normal total is about 108mm.

And Shannon recorded 180mm almost double the average 94mm.

Forecasters warned the weather will turn again tomorrow with gale force winds on all coasts followed by rain across Connaught, Munster and south Leinster.

Met Eireann’s Deirdre Lowe said a new weather front will move across Ireland early tomorrow.

“It’s going to bring heavy rain and strong winds but the rain won’t last as long,” she said.

“There’s nothing exceptional, about 15mm, but because there has been a lot of flooding there could be more.

“It will be quite intense for maybe four hours but it won’t be prolonged - nothing like we have seen over the last week or so.”