Status red rain warnings have been issued for counties Galway and Cork from midnight with Storm Bert expected to bring heavy downpours that could lead to severe flooding.
Met Éireann said the worst of the rain was expected in west Galway and west Cork where there could be damage to homes and businesses and treacherous travelling conditions. The warnings come into effect at midnight and run until 10am on Saturday.
A status orange rain warning will come into effect at midnight covering counties Waterford, Kerry, Clare, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim.
The forecaster said Storm Bert will bring “intense falls of rain over a short period of time” with impacts including surface flooding, possible river flooding, very difficult travelling conditions and poor visibility. This warning is to come into effect at midnight and runs until 10am on Saturday.
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Ireland weather: Met Éireann issues status red alerts for Cork and Galway as Storm Bert approaches
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A status yellow warning issued for Leinster, Munster, Connacht, Cavan and Monaghan says there will be very strong southeast to south winds coupled with heavy rain as a result of the storm. Met Éireann said the possible impacts include localised flooding, travel disruption and fallen trees. The warning will be in force from 10pm on Friday until noon on Saturday.
A separate status yellow alert has been issued by the UK Met Office for Northern Ireland for the period from midnight until 11am on Saturday.
”Storm Bert will bring a spell of rain, preceded by snow in places, on Friday night into Saturday which may cause some disruption,” it states.
A separate yellow alert says Storm Bert “will bring strong winds for a time on Saturday, which may cause some disruption in places”. This comes into effect for Northern Ireland from 5am and ends at 7pm on Saturday.
Meanwhile, low temperature and ice warnings covering the State expired at midday.
Temperatures were forecast to fall to minus 5 in some parts of the country overnight, with wintry showers of rain, hail, sleet and snow continuing. Scattered showers of rain, sleet and isolated snow are forecast mainly in parts of the north, north-midlands and West, while it is to be driest and clearest across the midlands, southeast and east.
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