Met Éireann has extended orange weather warnings for heavy rain in Co Cork and Co Kerry this weekend to Co Waterford, with the risk of flooding “likely”.
The forecaster has also issued yellow warnings for rain in counties Clare, Limerick, Galway and Mayo.
The warnings for Co Cork and Co Kerry come into effect early on Saturday morning, and will remain in place right through the day. The Waterford warning takes effect from midday tomorrow until midnight.
Met Éireann has forecast “very heavy and persistent” rain in all three counties, with the highest accumulations in mountainous areas. There is a risk of river and coastal flooding in all three counties, as well as dangerous travelling conditions and travel disruption.
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In yellow warning areas, “heavy and persistent” rain in forecasted, with a possible risk of localised flooding and difficult travelling conditions.
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, Met Éireann and other stakeholders met on Friday to discuss the weather warnings.
It said local authority severe weather assessment teams would monitor conditions in their areas and that councils have emergency response teams prepared to act where and when necessary.
The directorate and Irish Coast Guard advised members of the public in affected areas to stay away from coastal areas during this period given there is “potential for tidal flooding in coastal areas”, especially in southern and western counties.
“Dangerous travelling conditions are possible road users should pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees and flying debris as trees are in full leaf,” it added.
Nationally, rain will generally be persistent in the west of the country overnight into Saturday morning. The rain will spread eastward over Munster and Connacht, turning heavy in the weather warning areas. The risk of flooding is likely, especially in the southwest.
The weekend outlook for Leinster and Ulster is drier but there will be some patchy rain on Friday night, into Saturday morning.
Saturday will be “cloudy and wet”, Met Éireann said, with spells of rain extending to the whole country. Highest temperatures will straddle between 13 and 15 degrees, with fresh south to southeast winds.
On Sunday, rain will gradually clear to the northeast. Sunny spells and showers will follow, some heavy, especially in Munster. Highest temperatures will be 15 to 17 degrees with light to moderate southerly winds, fresher for the west and southwest. There will be further showers on Sunday night, heaviest in the south.
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