LAST UPDATE | 30 Jul 2019

DOWNPOURS THIS AFTERNOON have led to warnings for drivers ahead of rush hour, and resulted in the National Gallery of Ireland to close due to a roof leak.

Motorists are being advised to watch out for surface water and flash flooding on roads following heavy downpours this afternoon. 

A good deal of cloud across the country today has brought scattered showers with the heaviest and most frequent in the east of the country, Met Éireann has warned.

There was flash flooding in Churchtown in Dublin and elsewhere this afternoon after heavy rain which covered road surfaces. 

This afternoon, the National Gallery said that today’s sudden rainfall “resulted in flooding in two of the Gallery’s back-of-house staff areas”.

As a precautionary measure, the Gallery has closed this afternoon. It will reopen tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the AA has been urging motorists to drive carefully from early this morning due to the heavy rain, which has been described by some as “apocalyptic”. 

This evening looks set to dry up. However, patchy drizzle will develop in the southwest and west of the country later. 

Mostly dry and sunny conditions are forecast for tomorrow.