Sunshine on horizon after downpours cause chaos
Saturday September 06 2008
THERE was a scramble for the sandbags yesterday as the rain poured down.
But fears of a repeat of the widespread flooding -- and associated costly clean-up -- of three weeks ago abated as rain eased in the late afternoon.
Motorists were still left facing treacherous roads last night, but the weather is now expected to generally improve with rain easing off and a fine dry day forecast for tomorrow.
Property owners were on alert as heavy rainfall, particularly in the south and east of the country, caused some rivers to burst their banks, flooding some areas and left pools of surface water on roads.
The latest downpours came just weeks after several councils were hit with a costly clean-up bill.
Motorists were being urged to drive with care, as pools of surface water left some roads impassable in the hardest-hit areas -- including Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare and Cork.
Heavy rainfall of up to 20mm to 30mm was expected overnight in parts of the midlands, north Leinster and east Ulster.
Met Eireann forecaster Emily Gleeson said the water tables were already very high due to heavy showers over the past few days.
Close to 50mm of rainfall had collected by mid-afternoon yesterday in Annamoe, Wicklow, with over 30mm landing at Dublin Airport by 1pm.
But Ms Gleeson said the rainfall was not as heavy as on August 9, when widespread flooding occurred.
"There is no sign of a long fine spell," Ms Gleeson said, as an unsettled weather system is expected to move in off the Atlantic on Monday.
In Dublin, several areas were hard hit, with severe flooding in parts of the Ballyfermot area, including the Kylemore Road, and the Grand Canal burst its banks at Kilmainham.
Surrounded
In Labre Park, at the Kylemore Road, Sinn Fein TD Aengus O'Snodaigh said as many as 30 families were hemmed in by flood waters as high as three feet.
"This particular area of Ballyfermot is well known for flooding problems during times of heavy rain, having suffered many times before. It has been brought to the attention of the council time and again, yet no action has been taken," he said.
Dublin City Council confirmed a crane had been deployed, to Milltown to remove a 70ft tree which had fallen on the River Dodder, and left the Dropping Well Pub surrounded by water.
A local drainage problem had caused flooding at the Russian Orthodox Church at Harold's Cross, on the River Poddle, while Waterways Ireland was working to open the locks to relieve pressure after the canal burst its banks in Bluebell.
One of the members of the damaged-church said they were in "despair" as they had a primary school at the premises. This was not the first time the church had been hit and they called on the Government for decisive action.
Commuters also faced long delays on the N7 Naas Road out of the capital, after earlier flooding in the area.
In Wicklow, a flood warning issued by Bray Town Council, with residents told to prepare for possible evacuation, but this was later lifted.
Meanwhile, both residents and businesses on Arklow's Lower Main Street installed flood defences in anticipation of a high tide.
Deluge
Following a four-hour deluge, Cllr Pat Fitzgerald said many of the areas in the lower end of town hit during the last spell of flooding were affected.
"Every time we get heavy rain we seem to have a problem," he said. "It wasn't as bad as a couple of weeks ago."
Mr Fitzgerald said Arklow Town Council had distributed sandbags and cleared shores, but manhole covers were lifting on the streets due to the excess water. He said action was needed on a flood protection scheme.
The gale warning also resulted in a number of ferry sailings being cancelled yesterday.
- Louise Hogan
