Met Éireann has issued status yellow alerts for heavy rainfall, which could result in flooding, targeting Cork and Waterford for this upcoming weekend. The alert for Cork will initiate at 5pm on Sunday, concluding at 11pm, while the warning for Waterford will be in effect from 6pm Sunday to 2am Monday. It’s anticipated that the persistent, heavy rain could cause certain areas to experience spot flooding.
This alert comes in the wake of a significant clean-up effort in County Cork, following a previous event during which up to 65mm of rainfall was documented throughout the county in merely 12 hours. Notably, Bantry was among the worst-hit areas, with floodwaters damaging several shops. This is not a new predicament for the town, as it has been subjected to regular, serious flooding events, with four incidents occurring over an 18-month span between 2018 to 2020.
Elsewhere in the country, the forecast predicts isolated showers this weekend, but the majority of regions will experience clear, dry spells, together with a slight touch of frost. On Sunday, cloud cover will slowly increase countrywide, paving the way for scattered bursts of rain and drizzle. As the yellow alerts suggest, heavy, consistent rainfall will hit southern counties throughout Sunday evening.
By Monday morning, the lingering rainfall in the east will have cleared, leaving behind sunny spells and high temperatures of 11-16 degrees. However, Monday night will bring more clouds, with the thermometer dropping between 6 and 11 degrees. The forecast for the rest of the week remains uncertain, with chances of intermittent rain showers and spells.