High tides expected next week are prompting concerns that flooding may affect coastal and estuary areas nationwide.
Tides are expected to be 30 per cent higher than normal, reaching a high of 4.58 metres between Monday night and Tuesday morning on Dublin coastlines, according to a Met Éireann spokesman.
This compares to a high of 4.44 metres experienced in February, which caused widespread flooding in Ringsend, Dublin, and many other coastal and estuary areas around the country. The spokesman for Met Éireann explained that last February's flooding was caused by "a combination of low pressure, strong winds and wind direction" that coincided with high tides to create exceptional conditions.
Although he said that these tides may cause slight problems in coastal areas, they are not expecting the "exceptional combination of weather factors" which occurred in February.
The secretary of the Ringsend and Irishtown Flood Distress Committee, Mr Morris Sheehan, said that despite reassurances from Met Éireann that calm weather would continue, residents "are very concerned" that they are facing the same magnitude of high tides. Irish Water Safety has issued a warning to people living in coastal, estuary and low-lying areas to be vigilant.
"If there is a change to low pressure with strong winds, then we will experience higher than predicted tidal levels, which could cause severe problems," said a spokesman for Irish Water Safety, Mr Roger Sweeney.
The water safety organisation has also released a set of guidelines for people that may be at risk. These precautions include "switching off gas and electricity supply if flooding looks imminent" and "blocking doorways with sandbags or plastic bags filled with earth".