Two counties pinpointed for huge flood risk amid Met Éireann warning and 50mm deluge

Weather experts are warning of a big flood risk in Waterford and Cork amid a weather warning for heavy rain from Met Éireann. The alert comes just days after parts of both counties were left underwater as a result of Storm Babet.

Met Éireann has issued a series of warnings, including orange and yellow over three days with a number of the same counties impacted most by Storm Babet flooding to be lashed with rain again.

Met Éireann predicts "rain, heavy at times with the chance of thunder" and warn of possible impacts including "localised flooding and difficult travel conditions."

The first warning coming into effect at 6pm on Sunday evening is a Status Yellow rain warning for Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Galway.

Met Éireann warns of "rain, heavy at times with the chance of thunder" and list possible impacts as "localised flooding
and difficult travel conditions."

The warning is valid from 6pm on Sunday until 6pm on Monday.

Conditions will worsen on Monday with three counties now upgraded to Status Orange warnings. They are Kilkenny, Wexford and Waterford.

The warning for those counties is also for rain with Met Éireann predicting "heavy and persistent rain with thundery downpours possible."

Again, the impacts expected are flooding, dangerous travel conditions and poor visibility. This warning will be in place from 4am on Monday until 4am on Tuesday.

Also on Monday and Tuesday, there is a Status Yellow rain warning for Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow and Roscommon.

Met Éireann warns of "rain, heavy at times with the chance of thunder" in those counties with flooding and difficult driving conditions again possible.

Still not agreement on the weather models on the amount and location of rain over next 36 hours but worryingly some models showing over 40mm possible and in the South with same areas as Wednesday at risk of seeing heavy rainfall. Further updates later. pic.twitter.com/xQ0dHqtntA

— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) October 22, 2023

Weather Alerts Ireland too foresee huge rainfall on weather models, with up to 50mm expected by Tuesday morning.

They said: "High Resolution models are forecasting heavy rain for Cork and Waterford and further inland.

"Amounts of over 50mm are expected by Tuesday morning with some models forecasting heavier rain! Heaviest in the southern coasral counties.

"Risk of additional flooding in Cork and Waterford espeically due to the rain earlier in the week," they added.

In its wider forecast, Met Éireann says Sunday will begin "largely dry, fine and crisp" before rain comes in and those warnings come into effect.

They say there will be "a few morning mist and fog patches and the odd light shower near northern and western coasts. Staying mainly dry and bright in the east and north, but cloud will gradually build across the south and west as the day goes on. Outbreaks of occasionally heavy rain will push in across the southwest through the late afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in light to moderate east to southeast breezes.

"Outbreaks of rain will continue to extend northeastwards on Sunday night with some heavy bursts, bringing a risk of spot flooding. There is still a degree of uncertainty with regard to how far east the rain will get on Sunday night, and there is a chance that the rain will stall or become slow-moving as it tracks over the country. Lowest temperatures will range 5 to 10 degrees, coolest in the northeast. Light to moderate east to southeast breezes."

Looking to next week, they add: "Current indications for Monday suggest a damp or wet day for most with outbreaks of rain turning heavy and possibly thundery at times, with spot flooding possible. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in a light or moderate east to southeast breeze.

"Mostly cloudy with further outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Mist and fog patches too. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees generally, with light easterly breezes.

"A mix of bright spells and showers on Tuesday. Highest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees in light winds.

"Any showers dying out early on Tuesday night and becoming mainly dry for a time with a mix of cloud and clear spells. Cloud will thicken from the west overnight with outbreaks of rain spreading from the Atlantic. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees. Southeasterly breezes developing overnight.

"Current indications suggest it'll turn wet and breezy with a spell of rain sweeping northeastwards over the country followed by showers [on Wednesday]. Highest temperatures 11 to 15 degrees with moderate to fresh and gusty southeasterly winds veering southwest with the clearance of the rain."

It seems the bad weather is here to stay as beyond the middle of next week, Met Éireann says "low pressure is likely to continue to dominate, bringing spells of wet and sometimes windy weather."