‘It was chaos’: counties mop up after big storm

GALE-FORCE winds and torrential rain in parts of the country caused ‘chaos’ as roads flooded and traffic was brought to a halt yesterday.

Umbrellas were ‘torn to shreds’ after 130kph winds swept across Cork, Waterford and Tipperary.

A yellow warning was issued by Met Éireann as winds and up to 40mm of rain battered the country, also causing flooding in south and south eastern counties when fallen leaves blocked drains.

Waterford City Councillor Eamon Quinlan said: ‘The ferry between Waterford and Wexford was cancelled.

‘We had gridlock over the city through rain and wind bringing things to a standstill.

‘We are looking at chaos. The winds were pretty strong. Umbrellas were torn to shreds. Drains and systems were completely overwhelmed.

‘Our system was overpowered, drains were overflowing and there was water everywhere.’

A yellow wind warning was issued for Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal as south easterly winds reached 65kph with gusts up to 110kph.

The warning expired at 7pm last night as winds gradually abated but this weekend could see hail as temperatures fall overnight.

A Met Éireann spokeswoman said yesterday: ‘Saturday will be showery.

‘Showers will be more frequent in the west and along the Atlantic coastal counties although some will reach into eastern areas but will be more isolated here.

‘Temperatures will be 8C to 10C which is normal for this time of year. Winds will be moderate and south-westerly.’

‘There will not be any overnight frost, however,’ she said. ‘Monday looks showery with daytime temperatures at 10C to 11C.

‘Overnight Saturday temperatures will be 2C to 6C and coldest in Ulster.

‘The weather warning expired last night at 7pm and the wind warning ended then. The winds had abated by late afternoon yesterday in parts.

‘Winds cleared and temperatures became more moderate.’

Cork saw ‘buckets’ of rain yesterday morning but by the afternoon blue skies had eventually replaced the bad weather.

Cork County Councillor Derry Canty, who is based in Ballincollig-Carrigaline, said: ‘The rain was unreal since the morning. Leaves were all over the place. We had buckets of rain.

‘There were a few trees down but blue skies came in from the west. The leaves were blocking all the drains and creating flooding.

‘The rain was desperate. It is gone now but the leaves are creating pandemonium.’