PARTS of the Mid West, including Limerick, Clare and Tipperary, are at risk of being hit by flash flooding and landslides, a European flood warning system has warned.
The flash flood and landslide risk alert was issued by the European Flood Awareness System (EFAS), picked up by Limerick City and County Council.
The local authority advised businesses and the wider public in the region to monitor updates from the Council and Met Éireann.
It also advised people avoid traveling in “flood-prone or hilly areas during heavy rainfall”, and to “prepare for potential disruptions to transport, utilities, and emergency services”.
The EFAS alert warned of a 60 per cent probability of flash flooding exceeding a five-year return period threshold and warned of a 42 per cent probability of flash flooding exceeding the 20-year return period threshold.
Limerick City and County Council said the alert was forecast to begin at midnight this Wednesday (September 17).
“This indicates a moderate to high risk of significant flash flooding due to forecasted heavy rainfall,” the Council said.
The Council said EFAS also identified elevated areas at risk of landslides with 34km2 at “very high risk”, 155km2 at “high risk”, and 169km2 at “moderate risk”.
“These risks are concentrated in areas with steep terrain and saturated ground conditions,” the Council stated.
The Council said further updates would be provided as new information became available.
Met Eireann issued a Status Yellow rain warning, with “difficult travelling conditions, poor viability, localised flooding” for counties Limerick, Clare, Kerry, Cork, and Galway, valid from 6pm Tuesday to 3am on Wednesday.
