Updated: 11.47am
THERE IS A risk of flooding today as rain spreads across the country.
Met Éireann has said rain will become “widespread and persistent around the middle of the day, with some heavy falls in places and a risk of localised flooding”.
The ESB has advised that the flow of water through Parteen Weir will reduce to 195 cubic metres per second today. The situation will be reviewed again tomorrow.
A statement from the ESB noted:
This level of water flow will continue to have associated flooding to land and property in the vicinity of the Shannon downstream of Parteen Weir including the areas of Springfield, Montpelier, Castleconnell, Mountshannon (Annacotty) and the University of Limerick. Note that other areas between Parteen Weir and Limerick may also be vulnerable to flooding due to local issues.
The body is monitoring the situation along with the relevant county councils.
Forecast
Today will be cloudy and mostly dry in eastern areas at first, but a band of rain will slowly cross the country eastwards.
Isolated showers will follow during the late afternoon and evening, possibly turning wintry on high ground in the east. Temperatures will reach eight to 11 degrees ahead of the rain with strong and gusty southerly winds.
Tonight will be cold with winds falling light in midland, eastern and northern areas with some frost and icy patches forming.
However, in the south and west of the country it will become cloudy and any frost will clear after midnight with rain developing in coastal areas and extending further inland towards dawn. Temperatures will dip to one to five degrees with strengthening southerly winds.
Saturday and Sunday
Tomorrow will be cloudy and windy with scattered outbreaks of rain spreading from the south and west. Parts of Munster and south Leinster could see heavy rainfall at times. The rain will clear eastwards to drier and colder conditions during the evening. It will be windy, with temperatures peaking at six to nine degrees.
Saturday night will be cold and windy with scattered showers, possibly wintry on high ground. It will become mostly dry over the eastern half of the country later in the night. Temperatures will drop to between zero and four degrees, with a risk of icy patches on sheltered roads. Southwesterly winds will continue to be strong and gusty and will increase to gale force along Atlantic coastal counties towards dawn.
Sunday will be wet and windy as an Atlantic depression is expected to bring strong to gale force southwesterly winds, particularly in exposed coastal areas. Rain will be persistent and heavy at times. It will be widespread in the afternoon and evening. Afternoon temperatures will range from four to six degrees, but south to southwesterly winds will make it feel colder.
Sunday night will continue to be windy, with gale force winds possible along southern coasts. There will be scattered outbreaks of rain in the west, becoming widespread around dawn. Temperatures will dip to three to five degrees.
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