Status yellow rainfall warning in place for 10 counties

File photo of rain in Dublin. Picture: Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

Met Éireann has announced a status yellow rainfall warning for eight counties, with the UK Met Office announcing a warning for two more.

The warning came into effect at 10am and will remain in place until 9pm this evening.

It is in place for all of Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.

The forecaster warned: “Further falls of heavy rain today with localised flooding and hazardous driving conditions.” 

The UK Met Office has also issued status yellow rainfall warnings for Armagh and Down.

The warning is in place until 11.59pm this evening and the heavy rain will cause “some flooding and travel disruption”.

The news comes as flooding impacted Galway after heavy rain last night.

People being evacuated from their homes in #Clifden floods pic.twitter.com/uQM5NPKjpI

— Judith Faherty (@JudithFaherty) September 2, 2020

Garadí said that "flooding from the Owenglin river has caused the temporary closure of parts of Clifden town".

They added: "Bridge Street is currently closed off and a small number of residents have been evacuated. 

"Motorists are advised to avoid Clifden Town and to use alternative routes if travelling to Roundstone and Ballyconneely."

Gardaí and emergency services are on the scene. 

Earlier, hundreds of students were sent home early from school due to the flooding.

Secondary school students at Clifden Community School and pupils at Scoil Mhuire NS were sent home early following Garda advice.

AA Roadwatch has reported flooding in the area causing road closures.

“The N59 is closed in both directions at Kylemore due to flooding,” they said.

“Just east of Clifden itself, the N59 is down to one lane due to flooding at Waterloo Bridge, and traffic is slow both ways on approach.

“Further east of here the N59 is down to one lane at Recess, also due to flooding.” 

They have urged motorists to take extra caution travelling on this route.

National weather

In the south and the east, spells of rain in the morning will lead to drier weather this afternoon.

However, rain in Connacht and Ulster and will spread southeastwards this evening.

Serious water in Clifden this morning after last nights rain. #Clifden #Connemara #HurricaneLaura #Ireland pic.twitter.com/qCjfxSJUzi

— Micheál Ó Cadhain 🇵🇸Michael Coyne (@CoynesGastropub) September 2, 2020

Thursday “will be a bright day with sunny spells and scattered showers”, according to Met Éireann, with the showers most frequent in the west and north.  

The weekend is expected to be mixed with a “breezy and showery weather regime” predicted.

On Friday, there will be sunny spells and scattered showers.

The showers will frequent in Connacht and Ulster but be more isolated elsewhere.

Saturday will be a similar day with any showers “spreading eastwards across the country”.

Met Éireann said that current indications for Sunday “suggest some heavy showers are possible in western areas on Sunday but with good sunshine between the showers”.