Status Yellow and Orange rain warnings issued for several counties

Those in the southeast are being urged to remain vigilent.

Dublin, Waterford, and Wicklow are set for the worst conditions as Met Éireann has issued them an orange rain warning.

The warning is in place since 9am in Waterford for 24 hours, while Dublin and Wicklow, who are currently on a yellow warning, will change to orange from 12pm for the same length.

Additionally, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford, Tipperary were issued a yellow rainfall warning from 9am this morning until the same time tomorrow.

A Status Yellow warning also comes into play in Cavan, Monaghan, Louth from 12pm today for 24 hours.

Met Éireann has warned that this heavy rain is falling on already saturated areas, as well as areas with high tides and rising river levels.

Localised flooding, river flooding and difficult travelling conditions are expected.

County councils in the affected areas are preparing for the conditions, with Wicklow County Council saying it is in ‘a state of readiness’.

Waterford City and County Council have sandbags available in some of their depots while Wexford County Council warned motorists that roads are flooded in atypical places.

Met Éireann Meteorologist, Michelle Dillon, explained that for an Orange warning to be issued over a 24-hour period, between 50mm and 80mm is expected to fall ‘and up to double that on the windward side of mountains’.

Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime yesterday, she added that coastal flooding is also a risk during these warnings due to high tides and ‘strong onshore winds’.

“We’re looking at higher-than-usual spring tides, so at times of high tide we’re looking at some coastal flooding too.”