Dublin weathered the second wettest January on record in 2024, and the soggy trend isn’t letting up. Met Éireann has issued orange rainfall warnings for Waterford and Wicklow counties, forecasting “spells of vrey heavy rain” through 3 a.m. on Friday, febuary 9th.
Flooding Risk Escalates Across Eastern Ireland
Heavy rainfall, already saturated ground, and high tides combine to create a important flood risk in multiple counties.
- Orange rainfall warnings are in effect for Waterford and Wicklow untill 3 a.m. on Friday,February 9th.
- A yellow rain warning covers Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Wexford, Monaghan, and Tipperary for the same period.
- River levels are already high, with the Nore, Barrow, Slaney, and Liffey notably vulnerable.
- Local authorities are preparing sandbags and closing roads in anticipation of flooding.
Residents in Waterford and wicklow should expect localized and river flooding,along with difficult travel conditions as persistent heavy rain falls on ground already struggling to absorb more water. A status yellow warning extends the risk to Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Louth, Wexford, Monaghan and Tipperary.
The situation is complex by already elevated river levels. Several waterways-including the Liffey, nore, Barrow, and Slaney-are nearing capacity, and further increases are expected through Wednesday and Thursday. The National Emergency Co-ordination group met Tuesday to assess the situation and prepare for potential impacts.
january 2024 saw 141mm of rainfall at dublin’s Phoenix Park-225 percent of the long-term average-and 137.7mm at Dublin Airport, 223 percent of the average.Nationally, it was the wettest January since 2018 and the 18th wettest on record, with overall rainfall 123 percent above normal.
Johnstown Castle in County Wexford recorded the highest rainfall total this month, with 232.7mm (230 percent of its long-term average).Last Friday alone, the station registered 37.3mm of rain-the most on a January day as 1979.
Wicklow and Waterford County Councils are urging residents to exercise caution. Several roads in Wicklow are already closed due to storm damage, and more closures are anticipated. Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time, reduce speed, and avoid closed roads.
Waterford City and County Council is distributing sandbags from depots in Dungarvan (X91 N793), Carrickphierish (X91 N40T), Tramore (X91 RD74), and Leperstown (X91 YH90). Several car parks will be closed from Wednesday evening until 10 a.m. Thursday, and again from 7 p.m. Thursday. Flood defense barriers are also being activated; details are available here.
Dublin City Council is “monitoring river levels and coastal conditions closely,” and car parks at Sandymount and Clontarf remain closed to prevent wave overtopping. The Clontarf cycle lane, the Eden Quay boardwalk, and flood gates along the River Dodder are also closed until further notice.
Tánaiste Simon Harris said Wednesday that Ministers discussed interim measures to mitigate the impact of further rainfall. He acknowledged communities are seeking “what more can be done in the here and now” regarding permanent flood relief schemes. Discussions on improving flood warning systems, particularly the difference in alerts between low and high river levels, are planned for next week.
Met Éireann’s Andrew Doran-Sherlock emphasized the importance of monitoring weather conditions and river gauge data. He noted that even after rainfall stops, rivers may continue to rise due to delayed responses in catchment areas.
More heavy rain is forecast, particularly in the south, southeast, east, and northeast. Doran-Sherlock said these areas have already experienced unusually high rainfall for this time of year, and that pattern is expected to continue through Friday. While Saturday may bring some relief, the forecast remains unsettled into next week.
Keith Leonard, from the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, stated that “absolutely every engineering solution and every kind of interim measure” is being implemented to address the high water levels. He warned of difficult conditions across the eastern region, particularly in the Nore, Barrow, Slaney, and Liffey catchments.
Residents are advised to stay informed through Met Éireann’s website (met.ie) and the OPW’s Water Level website (waterlevel.ie).
