FINALLY, WE CAN see the country again, after more than a week of seemingly non-stop rain.

Met Éireann’s rainfall radar for 2pm this afternoon showed an almost rain-free Ireland (apart from poor Sligo).

Water levels are also easing in flood-hit Clare and Limerick, council officials confirmed this afternoon. The area around the Shannon has been worst affected by rising waters in the wake of Storm Desmond, which hit 11 days ago.

The ESB is to decrease discharge levels from the Parteen Weir into the Lower Shannon this evening – with levels dropping from 440 cubic metres per second to 405 cubic metres at 6pm. In normal conditions about 10 cubic metres per second flows through the weir.

Parteen Weir, to the northeast of Limerick City.

Clare County Council said water levels on the Lower Shannon at Springfield, Clonlara, had recorded a 15cm drop overnight and during this morning.

Further downriver, Limerick City and County Council said there had been only a nominal decrease (less than one inch) in the same period.

Limerick Council staff remain on site in Castleconnell, Montpelier, Mountshannon Road and in the Limerick City area, where they’re helping locals in the clean-up operation. Clare Council staff are also out addressing flooding in affected areas.

Forecast 

It’s set to be mostly dry for the rest of the afternoon, but we can expect rain to return later this evening, Met Éireann says. 

According to the weather service “rain will become more persistent in south and southwest coastal areas, spreading gradually northeastwards this evening and early tonight”.

There’ll be heavy rain tonight (sorry) in some areas again – especially in the west and southwest, but it will brighten up again tomorrow.

In fact, tomorrow’s looking pretty nice:

Some scattered showers will occur, mainly in Connacht and Ulster, but many areas will stay dry, especially parts of the east and southeast.

The swollen Shannon flows past Clonmacnoise in County Offaly. Eamonn Farrell Eamonn Farrell

The outlook is for more unsettled weather:

The weather will stay changeable and unsettled into Christmas week. A south to southwest flow will predominate, so it will stay mild, with little or no frost. But weather systems will cross the country, from time to time, bringing spells of rain, some of which will be heavy.

And there’s no sign of any major change heading into next week:

Trend for early next week: Mild and breezy, with showers or longer spells of heavy rain, from time to time.

There are currently no weather warnings in place (which is nice).

Read: Dublin Dart and train delays after ‘truckwit’ smashes gates at level crossing

Read: Here’s how to get directions to multiple places on Google Maps