Met Éireann expects devastating Storm Babet type floods to happen more frequently

Flooding in Midleton during Storm Babet. Record high sea temperatures across the North Atlantic contributed to the country becoming warmer and rainier that normal, contributing to the flooding that occurred there in October. Picture: Cork County Council

Storm surges and flooding that devastated Midleton and other areas in Cork are likely to increase in the future as the climate changes, Met Éireann has warned.

Last year was the warmest ever in Ireland by a "large margin", even though levels of rainfall were much higher than the long-term average, according to the weather body.