As parts of the country again face yellow warnings for rainfall on saturated ground, it has emerged that one observatory saw rain every day so far this year.
Data from Met Éireann shows it rained for each of the last 47 days, from January 1st to February 16th, at Valentia Observatory in Co Kerry.
A “rain day” is defined by the forecaster as one where 0.1mm or more of rainfall is recorded at some point during the day.
The total rainfall accumulated at Valentia so far this year is 281.9mm, with individual days ranging from 21.8mm on January 27th to just 0.1mm on January 23rd.
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A status yellow rain warning for Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Cork, Tipperary and Waterford comes into effect at 11pm on Tuesday and runs until 11pm on Wednesday.
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Met Éireann said rain falling on already saturated ground and high river levels could lead to flooding. It also expects poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions.
A yellow wind warning is also in place for Wexford, Wicklow, Dublin, Meath and Louth from 11pm on Tuesday to 1pm on Wednesday.
The forecaster said strong and gusty southeasterly winds combined with high tides may lead to wave overtopping, fallen trees, loose debris and difficult travelling conditions.
A yellow snow warning is in place for Co Donegal from 2am until 2pm on Wednesday. Met Éireann said heavy rain will turn to sleet or snow, and along with strengthening winds will lead to difficult travelling conditions in the county.
Wednesday will generally be wet and breezy with widespread outbreaks of rain and drizzle, possibly falling as sleet or snow in the northwest and on higher ground. The rain will gradually become confined to Leinster and Ulster, with scattered showers in Connacht and Munster.
Met Éireann senior forecaster Gerry Murphy said there was another band of rain moving slowly up from the southwest across the country on Wednesday.
Murphy said the eastern half of the country will get the highest rainfall, including in Carlow, Waterford, Kilkenny, Wicklow and north Louth.
He said between 30 and 50mm of rainfall would be expected in counties with a yellow rain warning.
Murphy said there was 114mm of rainfall in the Phoenix Park in Dublin over the past two weeks, which was “450 per cent of its average” for the first half of February.
“The east of the country has got well above average rainfall,” he said.
Belmullet in Co Mayo and Malin Head in Donegal have had below-average rainfall, but that will change “over the coming week”, he said.
The National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management (NDFEM) convened a meeting on Tuesday with local authorities, Met Éireann, relevant Government departments, State agencies and utility providers to prepare for the incoming heavy rain and associated flooding risk.
Flooding is a risk across the country due to the current conditions, it said in a statement. Whether or not a yellow rain warning is in place for a county, all areas will remain at risk of flooding.
NDFEM reiterated advice to monitor forecasts and local authority channels; to avoid bypassing Road Closed signs or driving through floodwater; to allow for disruption while commuting; to check on the vulnerable; to stay away from riverbanks and coastal edges, and to stay away from fallen live wires.
