More Flooding Possible

Further flooding is possible this weekend according to the latest forecast from Met Eireann.

The Irish weather service said today that changeable conditions are expected over the weekend as efforts to clean up after the flooding that affected many parts of the country over the last week continue.

Met Éireann warned unsettled and changeable weather is expected to move across Ireland over the weekend bringing with it heavy rains which could increase the risk of flooding.

In a weather warning issued today, Met Eireann said: "A spell of wet and windy weather expected during Friday evening, Friday night and Saturday in all parts of the country. Between 6.00pm Friday and 12.00 midnight on Saturday rainfall of 25 to 40mm is expected. South to southwest winds will also gust 80 to 110km/hr. Isolated thunderstorms are also possible."

Meanwhile, the Met has revealed that rainfall totals for November were record breaking.

Discussing the statistics accrued for last month, the service said: "Persistent and often heavy rain over this period led to unprecedented levels of flooding in parts of the west and south, as ground conditions became saturated.

"Rainfall totals for November were the highest on record at most stations, including the long-term stations at Malin Head and Valentia Observatory, where records extend back over 100 years."

The statistics released by the service revealed that rain or showers were recorded on almost every day, with between 22 and 27 wet days observed (days with 1mm or more rainfall), compared with the normal range for November of between 13 and 20 wet days.

Heaviest daily falls at most stations were recorded on the 1st, in the period 16th to 19th, and on the 29th in the east; two-day falls of over 100mm were recorded in parts of the west and southwest on the 18th/19th.

(DW/BMcC)