Heavy Rain Lashes Irish Roads

Wet and windy conditions have made driving conditions difficult across Ireland this morning.

Parts of Scotland were also under water too while there was flooding on roads across the North, following heavy rain overnight.

In the Derry area, there was heavy flooding on Creggan Road, where a stranded car was earlier causing traffic disruption.

The N15 between Bundoran and Cliffoney is also flooded as is the N13 between Stranorlar and Derry.

Delays have also been reported on the M4 between Maynooth and Leixlip and on the Clane to Leixlip Road due to spot flooding.

There was also flooding on the M6 between Moate East and Moate West and between Tyrrellspass and Moate on the old Dublin Road and very slippery conditions on the N11 between Dublin and Wexford at Ballinameesda bends.

There is severe flooding on the N55 between Ballymahon and Edgeworthstown in Co Westmeath and on the N72 east of Fermoy in Co Cork.

Flooding has been reported on all routes out of Listowel Co Kerry, in particular the N69 towards Tralee and Tarbert and the N22 Killarney to Cork road at the level crossing at Minish has also been affected.

Surface water has been reported on the N5 Westport-Longford road at Ballyvary and there is flooding through Crossboyne village.

The Wellingtonbridge to Balliniry Road (R733) in Wexford is closed approaching Arthurstown due to flooding. Diversions are in place. This will affect motorists heading to Passage East.

Across the North Channel, severe weather warnings have been issued in Scotland following heaving rain and gale force winds, with more of the same weather predicted today.

The UK Met Office said that as much as four centimetres of rain could fall across Scotland, while gales of 60mph-70mph are forecast.

They have issued amber warnings for the south-west, the Lothians, Borders, Central, Tayside, Fife and Strathclyde regions.

With the downpours set to fall on ground already saturated with rain, there have also been warnings of localised flooding and disruption to travel.

A night of torrential rain has already saw properties and roads flooded, with roads in Stirling the worst affected.

Meanwhile in central Scotland many roads are closed and some trains are not running because tracks are flooded.

(BMcC/GK)