New weather alert issued as flooding hits country

A weather warning advising of heavy rain over the next 12 hours has been issued for the east coast of the country.

The Met Éireann yellow warning, which kicked in at 4pm, covers counties Dublin Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford - where a further 20 to 30mm of rain is forecast to fall in the coming hours.

The new warning came as motorists across the country were advised to take care after flooding following overnight downpours.

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Flooding on Watson’s Road in Newry this morning. Photograph: Joseph Lennon

From midnight last night, the Fire Brigade control centre received calls about flooding from Cleristown and Rosslare in Wexford, Bettystown and Summerhill in Co Meath, Athy in Co Kildare as well as calls from Cavan, Laois and Louth.

Most of the calls were to housing estates experiencing flooding, the service said.

In Dublin, a number of cars were trapped in water in Sandyford, between Hillcrest Road and Aikens village and gardaí have asked motorists to avoid nearby Lambe’s Cross due to flooding.

A motorist was rescued from a vehicle in Milltown, Co Laois, and another motorist was rescued from a vehicle on the R124 in Malahide, Dublin.

Motorists were advised to avoid Drumnigh Road and Chapel Road in Portmarnock, both of which are closed due to flooding. Moyne Road is flooded at the railway bridge in Baldoyle and is impassable. Four cars were trapped in water in Kinsealy near the golf centre.

In Swords, Balheary Road remains impassable and flooding has been reported at Fieldstown Bridge on Ashbourne Road but traffic can travel along that route with care.

There was flooding in Tipperary where the M8 was partly closed this morning between Junction 6 Thurles and Junction 9 Cashel south. AA Roadwatch reported that the N11 Wexford to Dublin Road was down to one lane through Kilmacanogue due to surface water.

In Enniscorthy, Temple Shannon Quay, Abbey Quay and the Promenade are all closed due to flooding. Diversions are in place. Edermine Bridge is passable.

In Meath, flooding remains in Julianstown Village on the Old Dublin/ Swords Road (R132) and on both sides side of Clonee Village.

The Duleek Road (R150) is still closed between Julianstown and Duleek and the local road between Duleek and Bellewstown at Bellewstown Bridge remains closed, also due to flooding.

In Laois, the N80 Stradbally to Carlow Road is closed between Stradbally and Simmons Mill.

In Galway, a local road between Laurencetown Village and Eyrecourt Village is closed at Killevny Bridge due to flooding.

Iarnród Éireann said trains from Maynooth to Dublin were not serving Drumcondra due to flooding affecting signalling but that services coming from the city were stopping there.

Rail delays have also been reported on the Greystones Dart line and to and from Drogheda due to flooding affecting signalling.

Road users have been advised by AA Roadwatch to reduce speed and keep a safe distance between vechicles.

There are reports of spot flooding in Cork on the Caherconlish/ Mitchelstown Road.

Strong winds gusting at more than 100km/h will continue today and are forecast to be strongest in the east and northeast.