LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago

A STATUS ORANGE rain warning has been issued for Wicklow and Waterford.

Met Éireann warned that spells of very heavy rain falling on already saturated ground, combined with high river levels and high tides, will lead to localised flooding, river flooding, and difficult travel conditions.

In Wicklow, there will be potential impacts along the entire course of the river, the forecaster said.

The warnings will kick in at 3am and remain in place for 24 hours.

Counties Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Wexford, Monaghan, Tipperary have all been issued with a Yellow warning for the same time period.

It comes after the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) warned that more flooding is expected as further rain is forecast to fall on already saturated ground and swollen rivers.

Met Éireann said there will be a continued possibility of flooding in places today due to a combination of already saturated ground, high river levels and high tides.

Forecaster Andrew Doran-Sherlock told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that today will see some rain and drizzle mainly in the north and northwest of the country, though heavy showers will feed in from the south later. 

He said the rain will push up from the south from late tonight and into tomorrow, falling heaviest and most frequently in the south, south-east, east and north-east of the country.

“That’s continuing through Thursday night and Friday as well. There will be some significant accumulations in places,” Doran-Sherlock said. 

The wet weather will ease slightly on Saturday, with Sunday currently looking like it will be the driest day of the week. 

“But really, as we head into next week, there isn’t quite a let up. It’s still going to be dominated by low pressure, I’m afraid,” he added. 

Yesterday, the chair of the NECG said tomorrow would be a “pinch point” amid concerns that further rain could lead to flooding across Dublin and Wicklow.

Keith Leonard said local authorities “everywhere”, but particularly in the Dublin area, are on “full alert for potential flooding across the week”.

There has been significant rainfall over the last few weeks, including during Storm Chandra, which led to flooding and transport disruption in the east of the country. 

River levels remain high, and the ground is still saturated as a result, with Doran-Sherlock stating that at this stage, “any amount of any further rain or showers could lead to larger impacts”.

We’re dealing with further heavy rain coming on already poor situations that could lead to further impacts.

He also said it’s important to note that there are some delayed responses in some rivers and catchment areas, meaning that the risk of flooding “doesn’t necessarily stop just because the rain has stopped”. He urged people to pay attention to the weather conditions and to check river gauge data.

Flooding scheme expanded

The government has confirmed an expansion of Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Support to help small businesses and community, voluntary and sports organisations that have suffered damage.

The previous limit of €20,000 has been expanded to €100,000 and the definition of a small business changed to companies with up to 50 employees, up from 20.

🗣️ “Flood relief schemes take time, and it’s really important — when communities don’t have time — that we work with the local authorities to say what more can happen in the here and now,” @SimonHarrisTD#TonightVMTV #Flooding pic.twitter.com/y9nCrJsOZx

— TonightVMTV (@TonightVMTV) February 3, 2026

Areas hit by flooding in recent days have criticised the government due to the lack of flood relief schemes, with Public Expenditure minister Jack Chambers acknowledging that their delivery has been “too slow”. 

Speaking on Virgin Media’s Tonight Show last night, Tánaiste and Finance Minister Simon Harris said the schemes take time.

“It’s really important when our communities don’t have time, we work with the local authorities to say ‘what more can happen in the here and now to deliver flood relief in your community?’,” he said. 

Harris said flood relief infrastructure must be reclassified as critical infrastructure, and that it’s “absolutely essential” that it is part of a critical infrastructure Bill that will be introduced this year. 

He also said that temporary measures in some areas “have made a real difference in communities”. 

“We won’t be found wanting in terms of anything that can be done right now.”