FLOOD THREAT AND FEARS

Winds and heavy rain causing chaos

- - BY NICOLA DONNELLY & GRAINNE NI AODHA

PEOPLE have been warned of possible flooding as Storm Claudia sweeps across the island.

A Status Orange rain warning is in place for counties Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow until 8am today, and a Status Yellow rain warning is in place in 10 other counties mostly along the east and south coasts.

These counties are Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Louth and Meath.

Weather forecaster Met Eireann said that "significant" flooding and hazardous travelling conditions were possible.

Yesterday winds were nationwide with widespread rain across Munster and Leinster.

It will be much drier across Ulster and Connacht today, but a yellow-level rain warning is in place from midnight until noon today for counties Armagh and Down.

Keith Leonard, National Director for Fire and Emergency Management, said local authorities had been preparing since Thursday for heavy rainfall and warned of flooding in parts of the country.

LEAVES

He said flooding over the next 24 hours was the main concern, and that fallen leaves clogging drains was a "complicating factor".

He also said the storm arriving from the south rather than the west would bring "the rainfall into slightly different catchments than it might normally hit".

Mr Leonard added: "It's important people are aware of the potential conditions in their area.

River and surface water flooding is expected in Leinster and Munster today and into the weekend in part due to the recent rainfall earlier this week, which has led to saturated grounds and swollen rivers, combined with the heavy rainfall we are expecting.