Heavy rain and local flooding expected as rain warnings take effect

Met Éireann warned that there will be “prolonged rain with heavier bursts at times, heaviest and most persistent later on Friday.” File picture: Larry Cummins

Some localised flooding can be expected in parts of the west over the next 48 hours.

Met Éireann issued a status yellow rainfall warning for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo which came into effect at midnight on Thursday.

A second yellow rain alert is also now in place for Cork and Kerry.

Earlier in the week, the forecaster said a band of rain is approaching from the Atlantic “and is forecast to stall over the western half of the country on Thursday and Friday, leading to persistent and heavy falls in places”.

They warned of “prolonged rain with heavier bursts at times, heaviest and most persistent later on Friday" and that “significant accumulations" are possible in higher areas as well as a risk of localised flooding.

Liz Walsh of Met Eireann says the worst of the rainfall will have passed by late Friday night

There's a frontal zone that's effectively going to stall over western areas," she said. 

"For that reason, we've issued yellow rainfall warnings for a number of counties in the west, northwest and southwest of the country.

"Initially, the rain is going to be heavy and persistent in western and northwestern areas, and then the rainfall warning is coming into effect for Cork and Kerry as well."

The weather warnings are expected to remain in place until 3am on Saturday.

The forecaster said that outbreaks of rain will continue until early Saturday and the rain will be “heaviest and most persistent in western counties where a risk of local flooding persists”.

However, high pressure “moves in over the weekend, remaining in situ through much of next week as well bringing us mostly settled weather”.

Met Éireann said the picture is looking brighter over the weekend and into next week.