THERE’S FLOODING IN several areas throughout the east of the country as the predicted heavy rain came overnight and has been persistent.

Met Éireann have said that heavy rain amounting to 25 and 40mm has already fallen in places up to 6.00am with a further 40mm expected over the next 24 hours.

Gardaí are urging people to exercise extreme caution because of treacherous road conditions in many areas.

In north Dublin, two prisoners were removed from Ballymun Garda Station due to minor flooding.

The two have been temporarily moved to a different garda station.

Some lanes on the M1 were closed due to flooding, but have since been reopened.

Dublin has been particularly hard hit by the rain with flooding reported in Santry, Malahide, Drumcondra and Clontarf among others.

The coast road along the northside of Dublin Bay between Clontarf and Raheny is flooded and gardaí are urging motorists to avoid it.

Collins Avenue East was closed between the Malahide Road and Howth Road junctions due to flooding, but has since been reopened.

On the southside of the city there’s flooding in Ballybrack and Dalkey with motorists being told to exercise caution.

Dart services in the city were affected with trains only operating between Lansdowne Road and Malahide/Howth. However, services are running again.

The overnight rain has mainly hit Ulster, Leinster and east Munster and is expected to turn heavy at times today and cause further flooding.

Wet conditions on the roads have also been reported in Kildare and Galway.

The rain has moved northwards and Met Éireann had issued a ‘status orange’ rainfall warning for for Leinster, Cavan and Monaghan.

The warning came into effect from 3am and we are expected to get between “40 to 70mm” likely over 24 hours.

Rain is set to continuing in the east and north early tonight, with an ongoing risk of flooding for a time.

Sunday, at this stage, is looking quite a bit better, however: “mainly dry with sunny spells” and “perhaps a few isolated showers”

The east of the country has seen the heaviest rainfall. Met.ie Met.ie

Additional reporting by Nicky Ryan

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