Storm Ciarán: 'Deep area of low pressure' set to bring strong winds and heavy rain

Storm Ciarán is set to hit Ireland on Wednesday night as a “deep area of low pressure”, threatening strong winds and heavy rain.

Met Éireann has issued a weather advisory for the coming days as the unsettled conditions continue to cause disruption across the country.

Heavy rain led to flooding in parts of Cork, Waterford and Wexford on Saturday night.

Further rain warnings were in place on Sunday – Cavan, Monaghan, Connacht, Longford, Louth and Westmeath were under a status-yellow alert until 9pm.

 

There will be more showers and longer spells of rain on Monday and Tuesday, with flooding likely in places as soils are saturated and river levels are high.

Storm Ciarán will then bring heavy rain and strong winds on Wednesday night and Thursday. Met Éireann said Munster and Leinster will be the worst-affected regions, with flooding likely.

Met Éireann meteorologist Aoife Kealy said: “Even today [Sunday], heavy showers will bring a risk of localised flooding, especially to western areas and the north midlands. So, a yellow rain warning is in place for Cavan, Monaghan, Connacht, Longford, Louth and Westmeath until 9pm Sunday.”

She added: “Further heavy showers on Monday will add to already high rainfall accumulations. Then, more widespread and potentially heavy rain on Tuesday will lead to a further deterioration in ground conditions and river levels. So, there will be an ongoing risk of localised flooding as we move into the new week.”

The warnings come as towns and villages in the southeast recover from the effects of Storm Babet, where unusually heavy rainfall earlier this month led to homes and businesses being flooded.

Met Éireann has defended its warning system in the wake of the flooding, and the Government has promised to offer increased support for the communities affected.