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LAST UPDATE | 20 Oct 2023
MET ÉIREANN HAS issued Status Orange rainfall warnings for Co Dublin and Co Wicklow with immediate effect.
Heavy rains are hitting many parts of the country again today, with the Status Orange warning in place in the two counties until 8am tomorrow.
Met Éireann is warning that spells of heavy rain may bring flooding, dangerous driving conditions and poor visibility.
A Status Yellow warning is in place in Louth and Meath until 9pm this evening, with a similar warning from the UK Met Office in effect for all of Northern Ireland until 9am tomorrow.
In Cork, the county council asked the public earlier today to avoid the centre of Midleton due to a “significant” risk of further flooding after the town was ravaged by floods earlier this week.
However, the council says that risk has now subsided as the peak tide time has passed.
Parts of Cork faced knee-high flooding on Wednesday due to heavy rainfall from Storm Babet, particularly the town of Midleton, where members of the Defence Forces were deployed as buildings flooded and roads were cut off.
Met Éireann had implemented Status Orange rainfall warnings on Wednesday for Cork, Kerry, Wexford, Wicklow and Waterford, representing “quite dangerous” conditions as Storm Babet hit.
The community was reeling from the effects yesterday as residents and business owners surveyed the damage caused by the storm.
Cork County Council has received reports of properties flooded in Cobh, Mogeely, Ballinhassig and Glounthaune.
Road flooding has been reported in the following areas: Ballyspillane and R630, Midleton, Leamlara to Carrigtwohill, Ardskeagh Ballyhea, Castlelyons, Conna Village, Newberry to Mallow, Buffers Cross, Liscarroll to Buttevant, Liscarroll to Bog Cross, Ballyhea, Ballyclogh, Kilcoolishal Estate, Glounthaune, Water Rock, Shournagh Line at Foxes Bridge, Glen Road, Passage West, Ballea Road an Main Street and Carrigaline.
The council is asking members of the public to exercise “extreme caution” as driving conditions may be hazardous, with surface flooding possible.
It is advising motorists to avoid driving through flowing or standing water and to exercise caution during heavy rain, and to be especially conscious of vulnerable road users such as cyclists and pedestrians.
⚠️⚠️⚠️Flood levels of the Owenacurra River adjoining Woodlands Estate, Midleton, are being closely monitored as the potential for repeat flooding of some properties is HIGH. Gardai, Council crews and Fire Crews deployed to the scene. Residents advised to be on high alert.⚠️⚠️⚠️ pic.twitter.com/pxrleHQeEK
— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) October 20, 2023
Emergency services are present in the area and are conducting door-to-door visits in the estate for residents’ safety.
“Cork County Council continues to monitor the situation wishes to advise residents and businesses in the town to be alert to the possibility of rapidly unfolding events in the coming hours,” the council said.
“The emergency coordination group is meeting in Midleton this morning. We will continue to advise of developments.”
In Dublin, the City Council’s Flood Assessment Group met this morning and the local authority said additional crews would be assigned to deal with any flooding.
The River Dodder’s flood gates have also been closed to prepare for any possible flooding, with the council saying they will reopen on Saturday.
The risk of flooding is expected to become more frequent and more intense as climate change destabilises Ireland’s weather systems.
The Climate Action Plan 2023 outlined that the “most immediate risks to Ireland from climate change are predominantly those associated with changes in extremes, such as floods, droughts, and storms”.
Several roads that were closed to traffic yesterday due to floods have reopened or are due to reopen to traffic today.
However, there has been “significant damage to our road infrastructure across the county, particularly in the southern extremes”, Cork County Council’s Niall Healy told RTÉ Radio One’s Morning Ireland.
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Hope it’s a red rain warning on Halloween night in Dublin. Might keep the yobs in from going out letting fireworks off and burning fires.
@Brian k.: How do you burn a fire?
Do you throw a fire on another fire and burn it?
lol.
@KTH: you’d know all about it if I lit one under your A.r…s…e :-D
@Brian k.:
:D
@KTH: My father used to say “fight fire with fire” then again he didn’t last long in the emergency services.
Warning for eejits…
Water is wet, floods are bad, don’t go somewhere there’s going to be a flood and btw keep breathing or…
@KTH: warning for those issuing “witty” warnings – if the flood is where you live or have a business you probably have to go there and are enduring severe misery and stress.
@Niall Chandler: Warning to those who are issuing “witty” rebukes to “witty” warnings…
The article says the public, not residents or business owners.
I’m pretty sure, almost certain that the residents and business owners are aware of the situation.
@KTH: Reasonable advice. It’s only that people watching online tend to forget that swirling floodwater is hazardous. It’s filthy, full of broken jagged bits and bacteria.
Drivers underestimate the sheer power of moving water. I’ve seen enough cars stranded overnight in the Phoenix Park to imagine what it’s like down south.
Plus your house might be fine but if the drains back up, it’s not pretty. Especially when the manhole covers get thrown in the air.
@KTH: I don’t think it was in the context of “witty rebukes” as you say, I believe the poster was just stating it as it is! Btw, the “public” includes residents and business owners!! Does it not? It’s implied.
@TheGood Feign: Implied?
There is two distinct references in the article…
1. The public.
2. The residents.
“The county council is asking the “public” to avoid the centre of Midleton due to a “significant” risk of further flooding”
And…
“There is a particular risk at present at Woodland estate where “residents” have been asked to be on high alert”.
“Emergency services are present in the area and are conducting door-to-door visits in the estate for “residents” safety.”
If it was a general statement for everyone in the area I wouldn’t have wrote such a “witty” comment in the first place.
@KTH: If you’re still explaining the reason for your post, several posts later, maybe take the hint
@Jason Memail: If people reply to my post and ask a question I’ll reply, and I’ll continue to do so, that’s why it’s called the comment section.
@KTH: I don’t recall asking a question, nor did the first reply to your comment, yet here we are. Enjoy the rest of your day
@Jason Memail: I don’t recall saying you asked a question, yet here we are.
@KTH: your parents did a real number on you.
@KTH: go for a swim on your nearest river you will be grand
@KTH: There “are” two references and you would have “written”
@Angela Ryan: Your been ahh gramer not see know, it’s doesnt not impressed I mulch.
So there headline on Biden helping to provide aid to Gaza stays up, but no mention of the US blocking a humanitarian ceasefire.The funny thing is Irish media is relatively balanced compared to UK, US. There is a warped and twisted framing in our media to justify and give cloud cover to this genocide
@kerrill thornhill: Seeing as you’ve the inside scoop, is there any news on the hostages that Hamas kidnapped? Are they still alive?
@kerrill thornhill: Since facts matter, nobody blocked a ceasefire – they voted against a call for a ceasefire. Lots of people have called for ceasefires, and nobody seems to have ceased firing. Interesting that the most vocal critics’ of the US vote seems to be Russia, China, and you.
@: Israel has been slaughtering innocent Palestine people for decades… IDF are war murders.
Many of the hostages are under rubble after being bombed by Israel – it appears that Isreal is happy to kill its own people as long as it destroy Gaza. I want to see ALL of the hostages released, including the 1200+ Palestinians men women & children detained without trial. End the illegal occupation, end apartheid and ensure all peoples human rights are respected. Equality is at the heart of this matter
There are a lot of Palestinian journalists reporting on the ground, I like Mohammad El Kurd. You’ll find good lists of journalists to follow on twitter. There are plenty of honest, uncompromised, journalists out there
@kerrill thornhill: Hahaha no thanks. I only believe news from companies that are owned by billionaires.
@kerrill thornhill: you’ll find him on twitter under ‘ TIMES OF GAZA ‘
What’s your issue with reading the thoughts of Gazans and Palestinians? Do you think they are human? genocide is so easy when you think people are subhuman! ‘Punch magazine’ also dehumanised Irish people in the 19th century during the famine – wiping out the indigenous population. Large parts of Western media is now performing the function of ‘punch magazine’, to facilitate ethnic cleaning of Palestine
Comments removed!! Journal censorship getting ridiculous.
Might as well shut comments down completely.
Anti Zionism is not Anti Semitism.
@Dissasociated Follower: That’s because of people like you trying to rationalise the actions of the Hamas terrorists.
No it’s because Jews are in control.
And the Zionist response is rational how?, they’ve already doubled the number that Hamas murdered, and no sign of stopping, but that’s OK? The State of Israel, are behaving and treating Palestinians no better than they were treated in history, and have learned a few tricks. Gaza and the West Bank are literally walled in like the ghettos in Europe were, but we’re not allowed to make that comparison, its apparently anti semitic.
@Dissasociated Follower: That was me as you hijacked this topic. Very few comments are allowed now days here so staying on topic might is best before all comments are closed.
@Rory O brien: Thanks Rory, I appreciate your frustration but unfortunately comments are closed on topics of immediate and paramount importance such as the mass murder of innocent children and families in Gaza.
I’m sure you can appreciate that alot of very concerned Irish people hold these topics in priority over status orange weather warnings.
@Dissasociated Follower: it’s still a hijack of the topic and that’s the nuts and bolts to it. So little topics allow comments now and antics like yours will only make the journal go the same way as the independent did. Journal is not allowing comments on your topic so it’s best to respect their decision as after all this is their house.
@Rory O brien: Ok, point taken.
So what was it you wanted to say about this orange weather warning? I’m intrigued to know.
A high-pressure system over Scandinavia blocks the typical passage of storms coming in off the Atlantic and moving eastwards. The nature of the low-pressure systems is weak but extensive, so moisture wrapping around the lows gets stuck in specific locations, leading to flooding where they are prone to that event.
I feel sorry for those trapped in this weather event but not helped by this assault on humanity that blames it on the planetary climate or silly notions like climate actions.
@Gearoid O’Ceilleachair: Gearoid, you are explaining weather. Nobody should be blaming a single weather event on climate change as climate change does not cause weather events but can increase the likelihood or severity of them. You really need to get out more and enjoy nature and stop worrying about promoting archaic and incorrect ideas. Don’t be so sullen.
@Gearoid O’Ceilleachair: we in Ireland have the power to change the climate back to what it was, whenever, because we have a Climate Action Plan.
@Alex Aluko:
For all the wasted effort and anxiety dumped on society, especially students, for all the money spent, Ireland will still have a maritime climate when all is said and done. It should be a consolation for considerate adults on an island where an academic modelling community misdirects politicians and their influences.
The weather system that creates floods is interesting and should be explained rightly, along with all the influences of the jetstream, the position of high- and low-pressure systems, and so on.
People should retreat to environmental concerns, but pollution is not as glamorous as the idea of human control of the weather/temperatures.
@Gearoid O’Ceilleachair: Did Ireland always have a maritime climate?
Looks like rain Ted
I live In County Cavan it’s been bucketing down all night and most of the day and not an alert yet seems we don’t matter
@Tony Martin: They were worried if you found out it was an Orange Warning you might peel it in your pocket!
Sorry Tony couldn’t resist! :)
Omg so much rain this year…
have your say