A Status Red rain warning has been issued for counties Galway and Cork as Storm Bert approaches, with Met Éireann warning of a risk of “severe flooding”.
The warning will be in effect from midnight until 10am tomorrow.
The forecaster has warned of intense rainfall which could result in “severe flooding, damage to homes and businesses”, as well as “dangerous travelling conditions”.
A Status Orange rain warning has also been issued for Waterford, Kerry, Clare, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim.
It will also be in place from midnight tonight until 10am tomorrow morning.
The forecaster warned of possible surface flooding and river flooding, as well as difficult travelling conditions and poor visibility.
Storm Bert: Follow live updates
A Status Yellow wind and rain warning has been issued for most of the the rest of the country.
Met Éireann said there will be very strong winds coupled with heavy rain. It warned of potential localised flooding, travel disruption and fallen trees.
The Status Yellow warning will come into place at 10pm tonight and will remain in place until noon tomorrow.
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, Met Éireann and other agencies met to discuss the weather warnings associated with Storm Bert.
In a statement, National Director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management Keith Leonard said: “It is quite clear that we will have challenging weather conditions at local level in many counties in the west and south west. Local Authority severe weather teams are activated and are preparing for the storm’s approach.
“For those in areas affected by red level rain and wind warnings, I would particularly stress that the safest advice for those affected is to shelter in place and do not travel during the duration of the warning. As weather events are changeable ones, members of the public should monitor Met Éireann’s ongoing advice and act accordingly.
“For all members of the public, whatever part of the country you are in, rain and winds will be a factor overnight and early tomorrow. I would urge you to stay away from coastal areas during this period and to heed the appeal from the Irish Coast Guard for people to ‘Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry’.
“Also, dangerous travelling conditions are possible and road users should pay particular attention to the risk posed by fallen trees. In addition to this, heavy persistent showers are expected, which in turn may lead to surface flooding in urban locations,” Mr Leonard added.
Meanwhile, there is a Status Yellow snow-ice, rain and wind warning for Donegal. It will also be in place from 10pm tonight until noon tomorrow.
Weather warnings: Status yellow, orange and red explained
Met Éireann meteorologist Liz Walshe said the rain and wind will start to “pick up as Storm Bert makes his entrance”.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Ms Walshe cautioned that it is possible areas under the Status Orange weather alert could have “upwards of 40mm” of rain.
“Almost everywhere is going to get at least 25mm of rain, that’s including everywhere – even across the eastern half of the country,” she said.
In Northern Ireland, a Status Yellow rain and snow warning will be in place for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry from midnight until 11am tomorrow morning.
The UK Met Office said Storm Bert will bring a spell of rain, preceded by snow in places, tonight into tomorrow which may cause some disruption.
A separate Status Yellow wind warning will be in place for the six counties from 5am tomorrow morning until 7pm tomorrow evening.
Cold snap brought disruption to parts of west and southwest
This week’s cold snap brought disruption to parts of the west and southwest.
Heavy snowfalls in the west brought treacherous road conditions, while some schools were closed and thousands of homes were left without power.
Parts of Co Mayo were badly hit with significant quantities of snow causing difficult driving conditions, fallen trees and school closures.
Poor conditions were also reported across north and west Kerry.
Heavy snow in Galway hit rural roads, with some routes in Conamara unpassable for a time.
Schools in west Limerick, west Clare, Mayo and Galway were closed due to difficulties with school bus routes.
Some Bus Éireann services were disrupted, with a number of cancellations of early morning services, including departures from Doonbeg, Kilkee, Westport and Acaill.
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