Flooding has been reported in parts of the country after Storm Francis hit overnight, with hundreds of homes and businesses without power.
Parts of Cork including Bantry and Bandon have been impacted by overnight flooding following the second storm in as many weeks.
New st, main st, barrack st, the Square, all flooded #Bantry @CorkSafetyAlert @corkcountyfire pic.twitter.com/Kftm5Fw2Jh
— Bantry Fire Brigade (@BantryFire) August 24, 2020
A status orange rain warning remains in place across Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Wexford, Cork, Kerry and Waterford until 5pm, with up to 60 millimetres of rain possible in some areas
A lower-level status yellow rain alert remains in place for the rest of the country until this evening, while a separate status yellow wind warning is in effect for the south and east.
Here are the latest rainfall accumulations for the period between 1800 yesterday August 24th and 0600 this morning. 53mm of rain fell at our station in Valentia Observatory for the above period. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/HsMjT9hu1N
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) August 25, 2020
It comes only days after Storm Ellen hit parts of the country with strong winds.
Carlow Weather's Alan O'Reilly said having Storm Ellen and Storm Francis hit the country so close to each other in August wouldn't be common.
He explained: "It has happened, and it does happen from time to time - but to see two named storms so close to each other in August would be unusual.
"We're just seeing a wave of low pressure systems being carried across the Atlantic."
He said winds are set to increase today in the southern half of the country, with some very strong and damaging gusts possible.
