Now for fury of Francis af ter Ellen high water

JUST days after Storm Ellen wreaked havoc, the country is to be battered by yet another storm.

Three major weather alerts have been issued by Met Éireann with gusts of 110kph and up to 60mm of rain forecast for last night and today.

The storm will create hazardous driving conditions and the potential for fallen trees, blocking roads and damaging power lines.

The ESB, Irish Coast Guard, An Garda Síochána and local authorities are all on standby with the structural damage and power outages likely around the country.

The series of storms is due to a tropical cyclone season in the Atlantic, the national forecaster has said. Storm Francis will not be as windy as last week’s Storm Ellen, but the rainfall will be extremely heavy. ‘Intense rainfall’ was forecast last night and for today with between 40 and 60mm expected – along with the chance of flash flooding.

An orange rain warning has been issued for the counties of Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and

Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Wexford, Cork, Kerry and Waterford.

A yellow rainfall alert for Dublin, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary kicked in at 9pm last night. The warning is set to last for 24 hours until 9pm tonight.

Meanwhile, a yellow wind warning has been issued for Munster, Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow from 6am this morning, with ‘very windy or stormy conditions expected’.

Met Éireann said: ‘Intense rainfall associated with Storm Francis is expected at times, leading to accumulations of 40 to 60mm [with] higher values in mountainous areas.

‘The most intense rainfall is expected to ease off in southern counties during Tuesday morning. Some flash flooding likely.

‘This rainfall will further elevate river levels and may result in river flooding also.’

Councils were also advised to monitor Met Éireann and OPW forecasts during the unsettled weather. There were warnings that, as trees are in full leaf, the potential for a number of trees to fall, blocking roads and damaging power lines, is significant.

It said that ESB Networks are preparing for power outages with staff on standby to repair faults in all areas.

The forecaster warned people who are on holidays around the country to ‘stay away from all coastal areas for the duration of the Met Éireann warnings’.

And it urged motorists to slow down and be aware of the dangers of fallen trees and debris.

Road safety chiefs have also asked road user to beware on the roads in the coming days

The Road Safety Authority said the large amounts of rainfall will increase the danger of ‘aquaplaning’ on motorways and dual carriageways.

‘Stay away from all coastal areas’