Householders and motorists have been warned to expect flash flooding during heavy rainfall across much of Ireland.
Met Éireann has forecast 25mm of rain could fall in eastern counties over a 12-hour period today.
A spokesman for the national forecaster said 17 millimetres of rainfall was recorded in the Phoenix Park and Casement aerodrome in Dublin in the 12 hours up to 7pm today while Dublin airport and Grange in Co Meath both recorded 16 mm in the same period. Johnstown Castle in Wexford had 12mm and Mullingar had 10mm with the level of rainfall receding further to the west and north.
Meteorologist Pat Clarke said that the heaviest rainfall had been experienced in the east while some parts of the country had experienced little or no rainfall.
"Rainfall varied, the heaviest rain was along the east coast…we've had rainfall totals of between 15 and 30 mm [in the eastern region] since it began raining late Tuesday night/early Wednesday morning."
He noted that strong winds had caused trees to be up uprooted, mainly in the east of the country.
"We have also had strong gales at sea, particularly in the east of the country and there will be gales overnight and tomorrow on all coasts," he said, adding that there could still be between 15 and 20mm more rainfall overnight and into tomorrow.
Conditions are currently very wet through Leinster and Munster. In Galway, there is spot flooding along the Coast road in Oranmore.
Excess surface water is a problem on roads in Tralee and Thurles. There are some delays on Dart and Rosslare services due to high water levels at Seapoint and Greystones.
A fallen tree is blocking the Moyhill road off the N18 Limerick to Galway road. It is extremely windy around the Shannon area and drivers are being asked to take care.
Motorists are reporting extremely poor visibility on the M7 between Naas and Dublin because of spray.
Deteriorating conditions are also reported in Co. Kildare, as persistent rain has resulted in localised spot flooding in Clane, Straffan and Kill.
AA Roadwatch has appealed to motorists to drive through water only if they know it is not too deep for their car.
Gardaí also called on motorists to allow extra time for any journeys and take all necessary precautions. “As driving conditions are expected to be challenging, possible local flooding, we are asking motorists to reduce their speed,” a spokesman added.
Dublin City Council said resources are on standby to attend to flood locations that may arise. It said the predicted rainfall is considerably less than last October, when 100mm fell in 24 hours, flooding hundreds of homes and cars and leaving two people dead.
“Gullies and river screens in flood-prone areas are being cleaned and monitored during the warning period,” it said.
“The city council will have a stock of sandbags placed on standby for strategic deployment. Owners of premises that consider themselves at risk of flooding are also advised to make provision to defend their own premises.”
It warned that because extreme rainfall events are unpredictable, all parts of the city could be prone to flooding.
“While there is no threat of tidal flooding, the city council, as an additional reassurance to residents in the lower Dodder area, will close the tidal gates at this location,” it added.
Elsewhere, the Irish Coast Guard advised members of the public not to go out on exposed coasts, cliffs, piers, harbour walls, beaches, promenades or any other coastal areas while the bad weather continues as huge waves can be whipped up by high seas.