VIDEO: Further flooding alerts issued as rain continues

The second highest level weather warning is in place as the country braces itself for more flooding following Storm Desmond.

Farmers are working with the Irish Red Cross manning pumps to divert flood waters as Cork, Kerry and Clare are expecting up to 50 millimetres of rain to fall.

River levels are expected to peak in the lower Shannon on Sunday and Monday and the flow of water from Parteen Weir is to increase to 405 cubic metres per second today.

The ESB has advised that the river Shannon continues to rise and that the flow of water through Parteen Weir will increase accordingly.

The notification also warned that the flow is likely to increase further later today or tomorrow.

This level of water is likely to lead to increased flooding of roads, land and property in the vicinity of the Shannon downstream of Parteen Weir, including the areas of Springfield, Montpellier, Castleconnell, Mountshannon (Annacotty) and the University of Limerick.

The ESB has said that they are continuing to monitor the situation and are liasing with the relevant County Councils.

Despite this, Harm Luijkx from Met Éireann has said things are set to improve in the coming hours: “Bit of good news is that the rain seems to be easing off a bit at the moment and it is moving a bit to the south as well,

“For the afternoon a lot of places will become dry with the rain just over the Southern part of the country and it will push up again tomorrow but not as intense as we have seen today and yesterday.”

ESB has also reduced the spill at Inniscarra Dam to 150 cubic metres per second today.

The heavy rain during Storm Desmond last weekend increased water inflows significantly into the Lee Dam reservoirs at Inniscarra and Carrigadrohid.

On Monday, ESB increased its discharge from 150 to 180 cumecs (cubic metres per second) from Inniscarra Dam to draw down reservoir levels.

Despite the reduced discharges, there may be associated flooding of roads, land and property adjacent to the banks of the River Lee downstream of Inniscarra.

With further heavy rain this weekend, the ESB has said they will continue to closely monitor the situation and are in communication with the local authorities.