MET ÉIREANN has warned of further downpours today while many areas are still clearing debris after yesterday’s heavy rain showers.
A small craft warning has been issued on all coastal waters where winds are expected to reach force five or six today. Similar winds are expected on all inland lakes, and river levels are expected to be very high.
Very heavy rain fell in southern Connacht, particularly in Galway as well as parts of Munster in the early hours of yesterday morning, resulting in floods and road closures.
A number of flights through Dublin airport yesterday afternoon and evening were delayed by about half an hour.
In Co Kilkenny, the river Dinan burst its banks at Dinan Bridge, leaving the main Castlecomer to Kilkenny road impassable.
Sgt John Hanlon of Kilkenny Garda station has advised motorists to heed diversions and not try to drive through flood waters.
“Flooding on the N77 continues to be very bad and diversions have been put in place to take traffic away from the area,” Sgt Hanlon said.
Gardaí say minor flooding in Thomastown and Paulstown caused some traffic delays.
In Kerry, heavy rain overnight led to the cancellation of the third day of the Killarney races yesterday. However, today’s fixture, which will focus on a best-dressed friends competition, is likely to go ahead, a spokeswoman for the race company said.
Today’s meeting will be an evening fixture and “a precautionary” course inspection takes place this morning.
This is the second consecutive August race fixture in Kerry that has had to be cancelled because of bad weather. Last year, two fixtures during the Kerry meeting in Tralee had to be postponed.
However, many festivals around the country are continuing despite the weather, including the Birr Vintage Week and Arts Festival in Co Offaly, which ends today; the Timoleague Harvest Festival in Co Cork; the Westmeath Community Games in Athlone and the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Tullamore, Co Offaly, all of which end on Sunday.
According to Met Éireann, the outlook for the next few days will see today’s showers clearing to brighter weather this afternoon and evening. The weekend is expected to be mainly dry with clear spells and winds falling away.
Temperatures will fall below 10 degrees generally, and may reach four or five degrees locally. It will be dry at first tomorrow, with sunshine in places, but rain will spread from the Atlantic during the day.
