Local authorities respond to flooding as wet and windy conditions to continue until tomorrow

By Gráinne Ní Aodha (PA), Eva Osborne, James Cox

People have been warned of possible flooding overnight as Storm Claudia sweeps across Ireland.

A Status Orange rain warning is in place for counties Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow until 8am on Saturday, and a Status Yellow rain warning is in place in 10 other counties, mostly along the east and south coasts.

These counties are Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth, and Meath.

Met Éireann said that “significant” flooding and hazardous travelling conditions are possible.

Keith Leonard, national director for Fire and Emergency Management, said local authorities had been preparing since Thursday for heavy rainfall.

He said flooding over the next 24 hours was the main concern, and that fallen leaves clogging drains was a “complicating factor”.

He said the storm arriving from the south rather than the west would bring “the rainfall into slightly different catchments than it might normally hit”.

ESB Networks is advising people to report any damage to electricity infrastructure, and not to approach fallen lines.

Significant disruption to services is not expected, but the ESB said any faults should be reported immediately.

Locals in East Cork are expressing concern for their properties as up to 40mm of rain is expected to fall between now and Saturday morning.

A Level One Flood response plan has been activated with council crews on the ground and pumps available in known flooding locations.

Cork County Council Engineer Padraig Barrett said they will be closely monitoring high tide which is due around 1am.

Local authorities respond to flooding as wet and windy conditions to continue until tomorrow

Meanwhile, Dublin City Council said all of its flood response teams are on standby as an Orange rain warning remains in place for the city.

Crews have been deployed since 4am, with river levels on the Dodder, Camac, and Poddle being monitored closely.

Flood defence gates are currently in place along parts of the River Dodder.

The Council is working with the ESB and Uisce Éireann to lower upstream reservoirs, and says sandbags and pumps are ready to be deployed if needed.

Members of the public are being urged to keep drainage areas clear when parking and to stay away from rivers and flooded areas.

Met Éireann Meteorologist Liz Walsh said wet and windy conditions will continue until Saturday morning.

"There will be a gale force on the Irish Sea, which happens sometimes, but it's kind of an unusual direction for that to happen because most of our winds come from the west or south west.

"So, having it north easterly, it will feel a bit unusual. And it will feel cool because it's from the east and it's coming off the sea.

"It's going to feel like a cool wind, and it does feel quite cool out there today."