Home / Weather / Ireland Drenched: Widespread Flood Risk Looms
Ireland Drenched: Widespread Flood Risk Looms
18 Feb
Summary
- Heavy rainfall expected to cause flooding on saturated ground.
- Yellow weather warnings issued for 17 counties in Ireland.
- Risk of sleet and snow in Donegal and potential for snow in Northern Ireland.
Most of the island of Ireland is currently under weather warnings, with forecasters predicting a significant risk of widespread flooding.
Heavy rainfall, occurring overnight from Tuesday and throughout Wednesday, is expected to fall on already saturated ground. Rivers are reported to be close to bursting banks. Met Eireann, Ireland's national forecasting agency, has issued several yellow-level warnings, indicating a flood risk in 17 counties.
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management has cautioned that flooding is a risk across the entire country, irrespective of whether a specific yellow rain warning is in place for a county. These warnings highlight the potential for flooding, poor visibility, and difficult travelling conditions, exacerbated by high river levels and strong, gusty winds in eastern regions.
In addition to rain, some wintry precipitation is possible. Donegal faces a yellow warning for rain and potential sleet and snow between 2 am and 2 pm on Wednesday. Northern Ireland is also under a yellow warning for rain and snow throughout much of Wednesday, with accumulations possible on higher ground.
