Kilkenny gardai issue warning as heavy showers make driving conditions treacherous

LOCAL gardai have urged motorists to drive with care as heavy overnight showers and strong gales make driving conditions treacherous in parts of the county.

A message from the Garda Kilkenny/Carlow division this morning warned: “Roads very wet this morning, lot of surface water. Allow extra time for your journey.”

Meanwhile, Kilkenny County Council has warned that a rainfall warning by Met Éireann for the Nore catchment area will “possibly lead to accumulation of 20mm to 25mm” in water levels, raising fears of renewed flooding in the South of the country.

The national forecaster has issued fresh wind and rainfall warnings and parts of the country will be hit with heavy showers and strong gusts of up to 100 km/h.

A Status Yellow rainfall alert has been issued for neighbouring Waterford and in counties Cork and Kerry, which will will be in place until 6pm today.

A yellow wind warning has been issued for neighbouring counties Wexford and Waterford, along with Cork and Kerry, which will be in place until 2pm.

Met Éireann has warned of wet and windy conditions with heavy rains in many parts of the country at first.

The national forecaster said: “The rain will gradually break up during the morning; there will be further outbreaks also throughout the afternoon and evening.

“Strong and gusty southeasterly winds will gradually ease through the day. Highs of 6C to 8C.”

Tonight will be mostly cloudy with some patchy rain and drizzle.

Tomorrow will see dry and cloudy conditions in the morning, but “rain along the Atlantic coast will spread across the country in the afternoon and evening”, the forecaster said.

“Highs of 6C to 8C in freshening southerly winds.”