FLOODING IS expected countrywide today as a return to more normal winter temperatures brings rain and melting snow.
Met Éireann said all areas would be at risk from flooding today and tomorrow with heavy and persistent rain expected, particularly across the southern half of the country.
While conditions will still be icy in the early hours of this morning, temperatures will rise up to 10 degrees today and may reach 11 degrees in the southwest tomorrow, bringing a rapid thaw which will significantly increase the likelihood of flooding.
“Heavy rain will be persistent over the next couple of days and, together with the melt water, which will obviously be worst where the snow has been heaviest, there could be significant localised flooding,” Met Éireann forecaster Klara Finkele said.
The rain will continue to be heavy tomorrow in the west but will become more showery in the eastern half of the country. Even in areas which escape the worst of the flooding, there will be a considerable amount of surface water on roads.
However, Ms Finkele said a very strong south to southeasterly wind is expected which should, along with the rise in temperatures, prevent freezing and stop ice forming on wet roads.
Gardaí have warned motorists not to become complacent as the thaw sets in.
“Flooding causes its own problems on the roads, and just because the snow and ice may be gone, drivers should take care to keep their speed in check,” a Garda spokesman said.
He warned motorists to take particular care cornering on wet or flooded roads.
Drier weather will follow on Wednesday and Thursday and, while temperatures will drop back a little, they will still be in the normal range for the time of year.
New Year’s Eve also looks set to remain dry but will be colder, although temperatures will still be considerably higher than last week.
“Wednesday’s temperatures will be around 7-10 degrees. Thursday will be slightly lower at 5-8 degrees, which are far more normal temperatures for this time of year than we’ve been experiencing,” Ms Finkele said.
“Friday will drop to 3-7 degrees and could drop to between minus 1 and minus 3 at night, with a touch of ground frost, but it will be nothing whatsoever like we’ve seen recently.
“What we expect to see is a return to normal winter conditions for Ireland,” she said.
Numbers of burst pipes are likely to increase in the coming days as the thaw sets in, causing the ground to move, a phenomenon which leads to an increased risk of older, more fragile, pipes breaking.
Parts of Dublin city were hit by cuts in water supplies on Christmas Day after water valves in Fairview froze. The valves distribute water in the northeast of Dublin city.
Large parts of Clontarf, Killester and Raheny were affected by reductions in pressure and, in some cases, a loss of supply for several hours.
Burst pipes also left householders in parts of Co Cork, Co Mayo and Co Kilkenny without water.
Sligo County Council has warned that it may have to restrict water supplies in the coming days to restore water at its reservoirs.
