River flooding still possible on Saturday as heavy rain continues

Waves crash against Balbriggan lighthouse in Dublin. Picture: Brian Lawless/PA Wire

River flooding is still possible this weekend as heavy rain continues in some areas. It comes as most of the weather warnings have been lifted on the island of Ireland.

Two weeks of persistent rain and stormy conditions have left grounds sodden and roads and fields flooded, with rivers threatening to burst their banks in certain areas, particularly along the east coast.

People whose homes and businesses were damaged by flooding due to Storm Chandra last week have called for flood defence systems to protect areas at risk.

Forecasters warned that flooding is still a risk along coastal areas, particularly at high tide and near bankfull rivers as well as in areas where weather warnings are not in place as water passes through catchments.

Status orange rain warnings were in place for four counties on Friday and expired earlier than had been initially expected as the rain moved northwards quicker than expected.

Yellow-level rain warnings expired in nine counties by the afternoon, with warnings in place for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Derry, and Tyrone until midnight.

The UK Met Office warned of difficult driving conditions and possible travel disruption in those counties.

Some areas were seen to have flooded on Thursday afternoon, including parts of the Dart line in Dublin where stations were flooded up to platform level.

While there was some disruption to travel on Friday morning, Darts operated between Greystones and Howth as normal.

Debris and flooding on the line between Rosslare/Gorey and Wicklow/Bray caused disruption.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) met on Friday and said that while weather warnings were to lift over the weekend, river flooding was still possible on Saturday.

A clean-up operation is being co-ordinated by local authorities and motorists are being urged to drive with care and not to drive through floodwater.

Government supports are available to homes, businesses and community organisations impacted by flooding.

The weather is to dry up over the weekend, with scattered patches of rain and some winds.

Rivers in the east, south-east and north-east are close to or above bank-full conditions but are expected to peak on Friday.

The NECG said it would meet again on Saturday to assess the situation.