‘Improved situation’ in Dublin, but ‘elevated risk’ of further flooding in southeast, Met Éireann says

 

Met Éireann has said that the flooding situation in the capital has improved since this morning, but that southeastern counties will experience the impacts beyond today.

 

Dublin’s River Dodder burst its banks this morning following sustained heavy rain leading to the deployment of Dublin Fire Brigade to assist residents who were trapped in their homes, particularly in Rathfarnham.

 

“Parts of Dublin where we have significant flooding, the such as River Dodder, which burst its banks, smaller rivers and tributaries like that respond very quickly, so they are receding,” Met Éireann meteorologist Linda Hughes told the News at One programme on RTÉ Radio 1.

 

“So, it’s an improved situation there. A lot of surface water as well, and that is improving as well as the rain has cleared. Still some heavy showers, but the bulk of the overnight rain has cleared away.”

 

However, Wexford’s River Slaney also burst its banks this morning, causing Wexford County Council to close Island Road, Templeshannon, Shannon Quay, Abbey Quay and the Promenade.

 

“Areas such as the southeast, where there was significant flooding also, the impacts will be felt there for longer. So, there is going to be an elevated risk of flooding, particularly in parts of the southeast Wednesday into Thursday and even beyond that, as the rivers will be very slow to respond. They’re actually still rising as we speak.”

 

Ms Hughes added that the country is still not over the worst of the stormy conditions, and that already-saturated ground may give rise to further instances of floods as rainfall continues.

M50 to reopen between junctions 12 and 16 ‘within the next hour’ – TII

 

The M50 motorway will be fully reopened before 3pm today, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has confirmed.

 

The section of northbound road between Junction 16 Cherrywood and Junction 12 Firhouse had been closed due to flooding caused by Storm Chandra.

 

TII communications director Seán O’Neill said workers have restored the road to its functional capacity.

 

“The water has been cleared. We have sweepers there. We have tanker trucks, etc., so we’re just clearing up debris,” he told the News at One programme on RTÉ Radio 1.

 

“I just got a report from the operations crew that they are hopeful they will have it open within the hour. Additionally, they’re going to be sending some resources down to Kilmacanogue to assist the local crews there as well.”

 

Mr O’Neill said that crews will remain on site throughout the day in the event of a reoccurrence of issues relating to flooding.