Two new flood alerts for Dublin and Wicklow

There have been two flood alerts issued in the past hour for Wicklow and Dublin.

Motorists are being urged to drive with care today as heavy rain and strong winds continue to batter the country.

Roads are extremely wet nationwide with localised flooding reported in many areas.

Wicklow County Council has issued an Amber/Orange flood alert for the Greystones and Enniskerry area for the weekend.

The local authority said they have made the move under the Greystones Area Flood Plan from today until Monday.

Wicklow: Gardai have closed the M11 again both ways between J5 Bray North and J6 Bray/Fassaroe. http://t.co/9de5SKCdi8 #AARW

— The AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) March 22, 2013

All of the council's outdoor area staff are dealing with flooding in the area at the moment.

Keep an eye on Wicklow County Council's website wicklow.ie for local information.

Meanwhile, Gardaí are advising motorists to avoid the M50 in both directions at the Bray North interchange.

Traffic southbound is being diverted through Shankill and through Bray, while northbound traffic is being divertes in reverse, through Bray and Shankill.

Dublin Bus Route 44 is terminating at the Blue Church in Kilternan and will NOT be serving Enniskerry. http://t.co/ZXUwwK2G67 #AARW

— The AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) March 22, 2013

Elsewhere, on the M1 in Dublin there's severe flooding at the Balbriggan South exit northbound .

Motorists are asked to take the exit at Donabate and come back onto the motorway at the Balbriggan junction.

Motorists are advised to drive with extreme caution.

Blackpool in Cork was badly hit with a number of shops and homes being damaged.

In Cork, the N71 is closed on the Clonakilty side of Rosscarbery due to a serious crash. http://t.co/ZXUwwK2G67 #AARW

— The AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) March 22, 2013

Met Éireann is forecasting more rain for later in parts of the south and east.

Snow, strong winds and flooding are causing major problems in the North.

Police are advising motorists that the Quarterlands Road and the Cochranstown Road in Belfast are both impassable due to snow.

The Colinglen Road in Dunmurray is also impassable.

More than 40,000 homes and businesses are also without power, ahead of what could be the coldest March weekend for 50 years.

A number of schools have also been shut.