Heavy rain and strong winds can be expected as Storm Chandra hits Ireland on Tuesday, forecasters have warned.
Met Éireann has issued weather warnings for 13 counties, saying bands of rain from Storm Chandra will be “heavy and persistent”.
The Status Yellow rain warning for Carlow, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow and Waterford are due to end at 11pm on Tuesday.
Forecasters also issued a Status Yellow wind warning for Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Dublin, Louth, Wexford, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Carlow, Meath, Kildare, Monaghan and Cavan. The warnings will also be in effect until 11pm on Tuesday.
Met Éireann has warned of hazardous travelling conditions with a possibility of fallen trees and loose debris and wave over-toppping.
Forecasters say there may be localised flooding, especially where the ground is already saturated from recent rainfall, river flooding and difficult travel conditions.
Winds are expected to be “very strong and gusty” particularly at coasts and exposed areas.
Irish Rail and other commuter services advised customers to keep an eye on their communication channels for any potential updates.
“The very unsettled weather is going to continue this week,” Met Éireann’s Matthew Martin said.
“Storm Chandra will track northwards and bring strong winds and spells of heavy rain for many southern, eastern and northern counties.
“Tuesday will be wet and windy. The weather remains unsettled for the remainder of the week.
“Wednesday will bring a mixture of showers and bright spells. Thursday will bring showers and longer spells of rain.”
Overall, forecasters have indicated a wet and breezy start to the week.
Winds will gradually ease on Tuesday night, and the showers will become scattered with longer clear breaks developing.
Wednesday is expected to bring some early bright spells in the north but overall, cloudy skies and further showers will move up from the south of the country.
Some clearer drier breaks may develop in some part on Wednesdays, with lowest temperatures of between 3C and 6C.
Met Éireann’s Paul Moore said total rainfall for the month of January, as compared to the 1991-2020 long-term averages, was mixed across the country.
“It has been quite dry in the north and west, but wet in the south and east,” Mr Moore said.
“A number of stations in the south and east have already seen over 100pc of the expected total rainfall for January, with a lot of the rain falling in the last week.
“[The percentages] of total January rainfall ranges from 53pc (65.6 mm) in Athenry, Co Galway to 134pc (136 mm) in Johnstown Castle, Co Wexford.
“Other stations that have already seen over 100pc of their average January rainfall are Phoenix Park (115pc), Oak Park, Co Carlow (108pc), Dublin Airport (128pc), Roches Point, Co Cork (133pc), Casement, Co Dublin (119pc) and Cork Airport (112pc).
“These figures are up to and including Sunday, January 25.”
Deirdre Barry