Businesspeople and homeowners in low-lying areas of Cork city expressed relief on Monday night after high tide in the River Lee passed without any buildings being flooded, although there was traffic disruption along a number of the city quays.
Cork City Council had predicted a high tide of 2.56 metres at 4.50pm and the predictions proved accurate with high tide on the south channel of the River Lee flooding on to Fr Mathew Quay on the northern side off the river and Union Quay, South Terrace and Wandesford Quay on the southern side.
Cork City Council Director of Services David Joyce said the water did not enter the South Mall, sparing Oliver Plunkett Street and nearby streets from flooding.
High tide in the north channel led to flooding on Lavitt’s Quay on the southern side of the channel but the Lower Glanmire Road was not flooded and other low-lying areas downstream of the city centre were also spared.
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Mr Joyce said: “The water has now substantially receded in all locations except for Wandesford Quay and Lavitt’s Quay, there is still a small amount of water there but they are passable,” Mr Joyce said at 6.30pm.
Other reports of flooding before 5pm included Morrison’s Island and Fr Matthew Street. The South Terrace Road was reduced to a single lane of traffic under garda management while the cycle lane on the South Mall was temporarily submerged.
The City Council had issued a warning that the evening’s high tide, due at 4.48pm, would cause widespread problems.
Met Eireann had earlier issued a yellow rain warning, the least severe of its colour-coded system, for counties Galway and Kerry until 9pm on Monday. A separate yellow wind warning was also in place for the southern coast — including Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Wexford and Wicklow — also until 9pm.
The national forecaster had said the spell of very strong and gusty southerly winds would move eastward on Monday, with potentially damaging gusts of up to 110km/h.
On Monday night, the rain will gradually clear eastwards with showers following from the west. Southerly winds are expected to ease as the rain clears, becoming moderate to fresh in strength. Lowest temperatures will be between five and nine degrees.
Tuesday will be breezy with sunny spells and occasional showers, some heavy and a few possibly thundery. Highest temperatures will be between 10 and 12 degrees with moderate to fresh, gusty southwest winds.
