Passengers at Dublin airport were victims of the inclement weather yesterday - not because their flights were delayed but because the roof was leaking.
The Dublin Airport Authority yesterday confirmed that there were instances of rain getting through the roof. A spokeswoman said a build-up of dirt in the drains during the recent dry spell had led to blockages.
"It doesn't happen very often ... and it has not caused any disruption to normal service in the airport," she said.
"It happened in sporadic places in the building and we have people making sure that the drains are being cleared of all obstructions."
Meanwhile, there were four warnings issued by Met Éireann yesterday as the extreme weather took hold, particularly in the east. A heavy rainfall warning, gale warning, small-craft warning and potato-blight warning were posted as up to 50mm of rain fell in some spots, causing localised flooding, particularly in south Leinster and east Munster.
The forecast looks better, however, with rain persisting only in eastern areas. Saturday should bring some sunshine with fresh winds, making it seem chilly for this time of year. It will feel warmer on Sunday as winds become light and westerly. Morning sunshine will give way to a cloudy afternoon and evening, with perhaps a little patchy rain on the west coast.
In Britain, at least eight people were injured when a mini- tornado ripped through parts of Birmingham yesterday.