Environment

Storm Frank expected to bring widespread flooding

Strong winds, high tides and rain forecast across the country over the next two days

Ross Castle, Killarney National Park. Widespread rain and gail-force winds are expected as Storm Frank hits the country. Photograph: Valerie O’Sullivan
Ross Castle, Killarney National Park. Widespread rain and gail-force winds are expected as Storm Frank hits the country. Photograph: Valerie O’Sullivan
Ciarán D'Arcy
Tue Dec 29 2015 - 01:00

Western, southern and midlands counties are braced for a battering over the coming days with strong winds, high tides and heavy rain expected across the country today and tomorrow.

Members of the National Co-ordination Group warned yesterday that further widespread flooding remains a distinct possibility, with the potential for storm force 10 winds and storm surges in coastal areas along with rainfall of up to 7cm today and tomorrow as Storm Frank arrives in earnest.

Met Éireann issued an orange weather warning yesterday for winds of up to 80km/h, with occasional gusts of up to 120km/h, for Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Clare and Kerry effective for the second half of today.

A lesser, status yellow wind warning, for speeds of between 45 and 65km/h, will cover much of the east and south from noon until tomorrow morning.

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The Coast Guard has urged caution given the treacherous sea conditions expected to prevail along all coasts over today and tomorrow.

Vessels off the south and west coast have been advised to seek shelter.

Areas along the Shannon and Lee rivers are preparing for more flooding with emergency co-ordination groups being convened by local authorities in Clare, Limerick and Westmeath.

The Shannon in Athlone has already risen to 2cm above its highest peak recorded after Storm Desmond, according to the Office of Public Works.

This is expected to increase by a further 9cm.

Concern expressed

Tributaries along the Shannon are rising rapidly with an increase of almost 25cm noted on the Brosna at Ferbane, Co Offaly, ahead of even heavier rain in the days to come.

The ESB has expressed concern about the effects of heavy rainfall along the Lee in Cork which is already "bank full".

The ESB added that levels are continuing to rise in Lough Derg and may hit peaks last seen in 2009, which could necessitate an increase in discharge rates at Parteen Weir to 500 cubic centimetres per second (cumecs) from the current level of 405 cumecs.

Output from Inniscarra power station on the Lee was increased to 200 cumecs with an accompanying flood risk for land close to the river.