More rain for the south as fresh alert issued for three counties

Muireann Duffy

Another rain warning for counties in the south of the country has been issued following torrential rain which caused widespread flooding in Cork during Storm Babet earlier this week.

Met Éireann has issued a yellow alert for Cork, Kerry and Limerick, warning of heavy bursts of rain overnight and into Friday morning.

The alert will take effect at 11pm on Thursday, lasting until 9am on Friday.

The forecaster said the incoming rain will be coupled with already waterlogged soils and high river levels due to the volume of rain which has already fallen.

As a result, it said further localised flooding is likely, as well as dangerous travel conditions.

It comes as Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is due to visit East Cork on Thursday to assess the damage caused by Storm Babet.

Parts of Cork City and areas like Glanmire and Midleton were severely impacted by flooding, with questions being raised as to why a red warning for rain had not been issued, rather than orange.