Forecasters are warning of the danger of flooding around the east and south of Ireland as heavy rains are predicted over the coming days.
Met Eireann has issued a yellow rain warning for counties Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford.
While status yellow may not be unusual weather, it signals the threat of “localised danger”, according to the national meteorological service.
The “spells of heavy rain” are expected to impact on the counties “overnight Tuesday through to Wednesday night” and will lead to “localised flooding,” Met Eireann said.
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The warning, issued on Monday, comes into effect from 4am to 10pm on Wednesday.
In its latest forecast, the Met Éireann said winds would ease to light or moderate Monday evening, after a yellow wind warning for much of the west of the country this morning lapsed at midday.
While it will be “mainly dry”, Monday night is also expected to turn cold, with temperatures plunging to as low as freezing and up to 5 degrees “generally”.
Tuesday is to be “largely dry and sunny” ahead of “fresh to strong” winds in the south west, with highest temperatures between 12 and 16 degrees.
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Outbreaks of rain in the south west on Tuesday night are expected to bring “heavy falls in places”, extending north east overnight, although much of Ulster and north Leinster should be dry until the morning.
A “wet and cloudy day” on Wednesday will include “widespread outbreaks of rain, heaviest and most persistent in the south and southwest with localised flooding possible.”
Easterly winds should be fresh and gusty before a milder night on Wednesday. Around 400 properties were without power on Monday morning as winds buffeted counties Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo.
In Cork , crews worked overnight to clear streets, with Blackpool and Douglas Street particularly affected by heavy flooding.
Met Éireann had warned that “disruption is expected” as southeasterly winds were set to reach mean speeds of 65km/h with gusts of 110km/h near coasts and exposed areas.
