Large areas of Ireland remain on alert for further flooding as heavy rain is forecast to continue on Friday, following disruptions to travel and public transport on Thursday.
Flooding Disrupts Travel, Orange Rainfall Warnings in Effect
The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) has urged people in Dublin, Louth, Wicklow, and Waterford – all under orange rainfall warnings – to work from home on Friday if possible. Schools in the affected counties are on alert, and some may not open due to difficult travel conditions.
Numerous rail services were cancelled Thursday due to flooding and debris, including the Dart line between Dún Laoghaire and Lansdowne Road in Dublin, and other services in Wicklow and Wexford. Further disruption to Dart and Wexford services is expected.
The Clontarf Road, a major commuter route into Dublin city centre, was flooded and closed on Thursday afternoon.
River Levels and Coastal Areas Being Monitored
Keith Leonard, chairman of the NECG, stated the group will remain “vigilant” to rising river levels and high tides in the coming days. He warned of road flooding and potential impacts to premises over the next 24 to 48 hours, given the saturated ground conditions.
The NECG is closely monitoring the Liffey, Dodder, and Slaney rivers, as well as coastal areas from Louth to Waterford, with a particular concern for flooding due to high tides. Water from recent rainfall is expected to flow down from the Wicklow and Dublin mountains over the weekend, potentially increasing water levels further.
Status orange rainfall warnings remain in place for Waterford until 9 a.m. Friday, Dublin and Wicklow until 3 p.m., and Louth until 6 p.m. Between 25mm and 35mm of rain is anticipated in these counties, coinciding with a high full-moon spring tide, increasing the risk of river and coastal flooding. Yellow rainfall warnings for other counties are set to lift at various times on Friday.
Infrastructure Concerns and Local Authority Responses
Iarnród Éireann spokesman Barry Kenny described the flooding on the Dart line as “extreme” and warned of further commuter disruption on Friday. He emphasized the need for extensive coastal defenses to protect rail infrastructure in the face of climate change.
Local authorities have made sandbags available to homes and businesses at risk. Dublin City Council is closely monitoring river levels and coastal conditions, while Wicklow County Council warned of potential wave overtopping in Wicklow town, Bray seafront, and Arklow. Louth County Council anticipates further flooding given current ground and river conditions.
Emergency Response Payment Deadline Extended
The Department of Social Protection has extended the deadline for applications to the first stage of its Emergency Response Payment scheme to Wednesday, February 18th, due to the ongoing risk of property damage from severe weather.
Met Éireann climatologist Paul Moore attributed the persistent bad weather to high pressure east and north of Ireland, which has displaced the jet stream and is drawing moisture from warmer waters, impacting several western European countries, including Spain and Portugal.
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