Dublin, January 29, 2026 — Communities across Ireland are bracing for further flooding as a fresh wave of heavy rain descends on already saturated ground, just days after Storm Chandra wreaked havoc across the island.
Flood Warnings Issued as Storm Recovery Begins
Table of Contents
A yellow rain warning is in effect for multiple counties, threatening to prolong the disruption caused by recent torrential downpours.
- A Status Yellow rain warning covers counties Dublin, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, and Waterford for 24 hours.
- Northern Ireland is also under a Status Yellow rain warning from midnight until 6pm on Friday.
- Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant as river levels remain high and grounds are saturated.
- Financial assistance is becoming available for those impacted by Storm Chandra.
What’s the current flood risk? The combination of continued heavy rainfall and already waterlogged conditions poses a significant risk of further flooding, particularly in areas where rivers have recently burst their banks.
Heavy winds and relentless rain on Tuesday led to widespread disruption across Ireland, including power outages, flight cancellations, and the closure of 300 schools in Northern Ireland. Rivers, including the Slaney in County Wexford and the Dodder in Dublin, overflowed, and fallen trees blocked roads throughout the country.
Enniscorthy Struggles with Aftermath
The town of Enniscorthy, County Wexford, is grappling with the aftermath of severe flooding caused by the River Slaney breaching its banks. Several parts of the town center were impassable on Tuesday, with dozens of homes and businesses submerged under several meters of water. Residents are now facing the daunting task of cleaning up debris left behind as the water receded, including broken glass and food waste from bins swept away by the floodwaters.
Minister for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Kevin Boxer Moran, is scheduled to visit the areas most affected by Storm Chandra – south Dublin, County Wicklow, and Enniscorthy, County Wexford – to assess the damage and coordinate relief efforts.
National Director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, Keith Leonard, stated that local authorities were alerted to the potential for flooding before Storm Chandra arrived. “Local authorities were very aware of what was coming down. Unfortunately, south Dublin particularly caught us a little bit by surprise. We just weren’t expecting those levels of rainfall that fell,” he said, speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
Leonard added that local authorities will remain vigilant through the weekend, with emergency services on standby. Met Éireann is also implementing a second phase of its flood warning system, aiming to provide more localized and timely alerts, though it is not yet fully operational.
Financial assistance is being offered to those whose properties were damaged by Storm Chandra. The Emergency Response Payment, an income-tested support, is available to help cover the costs of replacing essential items and making structural repairs. Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke is seeking government approval for the Emergency Humanitarian Flooding Scheme, which would provide up to €5,000 to businesses with 20 or fewer employees, as well as voluntary and sports organizations.
⚠️Yellow Rainfall Warning
➡️Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, Wicklow & Dublin
⌛️00z Thursday to 00z Friday
Further heavy rain/showers falling on saturated ground, combined with high river levels may cause further flooding & difficulty travelling
ℹ️https://t.co/GYji547FKt pic.twitter.com/8WlgdVZAGs
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 28, 2026
The areas most severely impacted by the recent flooding include Aughrim in County Wicklow and Bunclody and Enniscorthy in County Wexford.
