DONEGAL County Council has issued a warning about possible flooding ahead of the arrival of Storm Francis.
Earlier today Met Éireann issued a status orange weather warning for intense rainfall for Donegal and other parts of the country effective from 9pm tonight until 5pm on Tuesday. This will lead to rainfall accumulations of between 40 – 60mm with increased accumulations on higher ground.
“Given that the ground is already water-logged in certain locations it is expected that some localised surface flooding may occur within the county,” a spokesperson for the Council said.
“The rainfall will also elevate river levels and this may result in river flooding in some locations too. Heavy rain may overwhelm drains and gullies and property owners / occupiers are being asked to check these for potential blockages. Motorists are being asked to take extra care while driving during heavy rainfall and to be mindful of the potential risk of spot flooding along the road network.
“Beach goers should be aware that there could be instances of high waves during this period and are asked to be extra vigilant along exposed coastal areas and to heed the Irish Coast Guard’s advice to ‘stay back, stay high and stay dry’.
“Donegal County Council’s Severe Weather Assessment Team are keeping the approaching weather pattern under review and will continue to monitor all local conditions as Storm Francis progresses. All Council services remain in a state of readiness as is the norm.”
Donegal County Council can be contacted during normal business hours on 074 91 53900 and in the event of an out-of-hours emergency the Council’s Road Service can be contacted on 074 91 72288. For emergencies requiring the assistance of the Fire Service call 999 or 112.
You can keep up to date on conditions by signing up for free alerts to your phone by registering at www.mapalerter.com/donegal or by following Donegal County Council on Facebook or on Twitter @DonegalCouncil.