Sandbags at the ready: Kilkenny Council prepares for flooding amid new weather warning
Kilkenny residents are being told to prepare for flooding and to stay at home as the county is set to be hit by heavy rains for the coming day.
It comes comes as a second Status Yellow rain warning was issued for county Kilkenny this morning. A separate Status Yellow wind warning with gusts up to 110kph is already in place.
In response, Kilkenny County Council issued a warning of its own, urging caution as the local authority set up sandbag collection points around the county.
The council fears there could be the risk of damaging flooding around the county due to high river water levels at the present time.
A council spokesperson said: “A code yellow weather warning for rainfall of between 30 and 50mm is in place from midnight tonight for the full day on Tuesday, February 23.
“Significant surface water is expected and motorists and all road users are advised to take care on necessary journeys.
“River levels are at an elevated level at the moment and sandbags are available for collection at the normal locations listed below for property owners liable to flooding,” the spokesperson added.
For those fearing their property could at risk of flooding, sandbags can be collected at the following locations:
| KILKENNY CITY | Council Machinery Yard, Gaol Road, Kilkenny |
| CASTLECOMER | Outside the Donaguile Council Depot. |
| FRESHFORD | The Square, Freshford. |
| BALLYRAGGETT | At bottle banks, Ballyraggett |
| GOWRAN | Outside the Woodquarter Council Depot |
| JOHNSTOWN | Outside the Johnstown Council Depot |
| CALLAN | At Council Depot and Area Office |
| GRAIGUENAMANAGH | At Council Depot and Bridge in Graiguenamanagh |
| THOMASTOWN | At Area Office and Old Fire Station, Maudlin Street |
| INISTIOGE | Riverside Park |
| BENNETTSBRIDGE | Community Centre |
| TULLAGHER | Council Depot |
| NEWRATH | Council Depot |
| MOONCOIN | Opposite Royal Oak in Rathkieran. |
Met Éireann issued two separate warnings for county Kilkenny in the past number of hours, a wind warning and a rain warning. The wind warning remains in effect until 6am tomorrow morning, while the rain warning will remain in place until 9pm tomorrow night.
The national forecaster said: “Heavy rain on Monday night and Tuesday will lead to some river flooding and localised surface flooding.
“Rainfall totals of 30 to 50mm, higher in mountainous regions. Southerly winds will reach mean wind speeds of 50 to 65km/h, with gusts of 90 to 110km/h, possibly higher on exposed coasts.
“Where winds are onshore there is a risk of coastal flooding.”
A Status Orange rain warning has been issued for neighbouring counties Tipperary and Waterford, as well as Cork and Kerry.
