Live: Status yellow weather warning in place overnight for Cork as Met Éireann warn of the potential for further localised flooding
Cleaning up after the floods on Thomas Street, Midleton, Co Cork; Picture Dan Linehan
LATEST 10pm
A status yellow rainfall warning is in place in Cork from 11pm tonight until 9am on Friday morning.
The warning is also in place for Kerry and Limerick.
Met Éireann are warning that heavy bursts of rain or showers overnight and Friday morning coupled with waterlogged soils and high river levels is likely to lead to further localised flooding and dangerous travelling conditions.
Fianna Fáil councillor Ann Marie Ahern said she had spoken to council engineers about the ongoing situation in Midleton, and they were maintaining a watching brief to see if water levels were rising.
"They're monitoring the situation minute by minute," she said.
There was no flooding shortly before 10pm.
Heavy slow moving showers in parts of Cork now too, including Midleton. https://t.co/Q72casPJJj pic.twitter.com/lJs3mC9fe4
— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) October 19, 2023
6.40pm
Cork City Council have issued a number of updates regarding road openings and continued closures this evening.
In a post on X, the local authority confirmed that Monahan Road would again be closed for the evening due to damage discovered during inspection.
Cork City Council crews will carry out further inspections in the morning, aiming to reopen as quickly as possible, they added.
Meanwhile, The road between Hazelwood and Spring Hill by the Church in Glanmire is now open.
The road between Barnavara Hill and the L2999 is all now open.
Access to Vienna Woods from the Dunkettle Roundabout is open but not to through traffic.
The road from Vienna Woods to Church Hill remains closed while repairs are made to the culvert.
⚠️Road Update⚠️
— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) October 19, 2023
The R639 from Glanmire Bridge to Riverstown Cross is now open.
Both the southern and northern sides are still closed.
Our crews continue to work on both culverts.@CorkSafetyAlert #StormBabet
5.20pm
The Tánaiste and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin, has thanked Civil Defence volunteers and Defence Forces deployed to towns and villages impacted by flooding during Storm Babet.
He said that considerable assistance has been provided in flood-impacted areas during the last 24 hours.
Three units of the Cork Civil Defence - Cork City, Cork North and East, Cork West - were mobilised to assist with flood relief operations in the Blackpool, Glanmire and Midleton areas.
In total, approximately 50 Civil Defence Volunteers were deployed to Cork North & East, 16 to Cork West and 11 to Glanmire and Blackpool.
Volunteers operated on the ground, some throughout the night, with crews assisting with pumping, sand-bagging, transport of evacuees, setting up rest centres and general assistance to homeowners and businesses.
Defence Forces personnel also provided emergency transport of nurses to and from Mercy Hospital in Cork on Wednesday night and deployed engineers to pump out water from Midleton Hospital on Thursday morning.
Mercy Hospital nurses brought safely for night duty by of 1 Bde MP Coy this evening. Duty calls, the patients come first. @DF_Sgt_Major @df_recruitment @bemore @Mercycork @mercy_nursing #StormBabet pic.twitter.com/ueRB85wxoG
— 1 Brigade 🇮🇪 Defence Forces (@1Bde_Official) October 18, 2023
The Tánaiste said: “My thoughts are with the households and businesses affected by the fierce flooding on Wednesday across County Cork, Cork City and west Waterford. It is a very distressing time for many people.
Earlier today, 1 Bde Engr Gp Swift Water Rescue Technicians deployed to Midleton with of Cork County Fire Service to assist with the evacuation of of the public affected by Storm Babet. Well done to all emergency services personnel involved in this operation pic.twitter.com/aOy5IodnER
— Defence Forces Engineer Corps (@DF_Engineers) October 18, 2023
“I want to thank the Civil Defence volunteers and Defence Forces who have provided essential assistance in flood relief efforts - working long hours in very challenging conditions to help those affected by the terrible flooding. It is important to also recognise the companies and businesses who have freed up the volunteers from their day jobs to provide this emergency assistance.
“The significant investment made by the Department of Defence in professional training was key to the state response to this incident.”
4pm
Cork County Council says numerous parts of the county’s road network remain severely affected today following yesterday's floods with many roads remaining closed to traffic.
This includes roads in the vicinity of Midleton and other areas.
Up-to-date updates are being issued at https://mapalerts.corkcoco.ie/en/alerts
It is urging people to avoid driving through flowing or standing water, exercise extreme caution and be especially conscious of vulnerable road s such as cyclists and pedestrians.
ℹ️ Cork County Council is continuously evaluating the impact of #StormBabet. Our primary focus remains on ensuring public safety, and continuing clean-up operations in the affected areas.
— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) October 19, 2023
ℹ️ Full update on our website: https://t.co/nrQimBOPMW
📷 @IrishCoastGuard pic.twitter.com/LA7vf3YysI
2.40pm
Cork County Council is assessing the impact caused by yesterday's storm and says its primary focus remains on ensuring public safety, and continuing clean-up operations in the affected areas.
The Council's Severe Weather Assessment Team convened this morning to assess the impact of the unprecedented flooding across the county.
In a statement, the local authority said that council officials are working closely with emergency services and local communities to address immediate concerns, including flooding, road closures, and infrastructure damage.
"Efforts are concentrated on restoring essential services, securing affected areas, and ing residents and businesses who have been impacted by the severe weather," it said.
The Council responded to 57 calls for assistance between 5pm yesterday and 9am this morning through its customer centre.
Numerous parts of the county’s road network have been severely affected with many roads remaining closed to traffic. The N25 at Castlemartyr is still imable to traffic with diversion routes via Tallow, Conna, Rathcormac, and Dunkettle. Additional updates on affected roads are available on the council's website.
It noted that Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow Rain Warning for Cork valid from 11pm tonight to 9am tomorrow and said heavy bursts of rain or showers overnight and Friday morning coupled with waterlogged soils and high river levels may lead to further localised flooding and dangerous travelling conditions.
"Considering the volume of rainfall together with ongoing forecasted conditions, saturated land, and high river and stream levels, Cork County Council continues to ask all road s to exercise extreme caution. The full extent of the damage is impossible to assess at this time. Please avoid driving through flowing or standing water, exercise extreme caution and be especially conscious of vulnerable road s such as cyclists and pedestrians. Council crews and contractors continue to be active in the aftermath of this event and are busy assisting road s, homes and businesses and are operating in challenging conditions," the statement said.
Cork County Council said it will continue to inspect and undertake emergency repair works on the roads most severely impacted across the region, while also commencing the "considerable clean-up" programme that lies ahead.
"Again, motorists are asked to be aware of the impact on the road network with damage expected as a result of standing water.
"With high river levels, of the public are advised to stay high, stay dry and away from the coast, rivers and lakes," it said.
2.25pm
Cork County Council has appealed to of the public to continue to avoid Main Street, Midleton to allow for clean-up operations after Storm Babet.
It is also advising that Midleton library remains closed until further notice.
⚠️ of the public are asked to continue to avoid Main Street, #Midleton to allow for clean-up operations after #StormBabet
— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) October 19, 2023
ℹ️ Please note, Midleton library remains closed until further notice.@corkcolibrary pic.twitter.com/rvrwZeX7Ky
Midleton Garda Station is also closed as a result of the storm.
of the public are advised however that they can still the station on 021-4621550.
Meanwhile, Cork City Council is advising that the Centre Park Road is now open to traffic.
Cork City Council crews along with the Cork City Fire Service continue to work on Monahan Road.
2pm
Cork Kerry Community Healthcare says it is assessing the impact of flooding on a number of HSE services on Midleton.
It said that a number of residents of Midleton Community Hospital had to move within the complex yesterday afternoon.
"Our teams are today assessing the damage to that part of the Community Hospital, but it may be some time before it is available for occupation again. We want to reassure residents and their families that all residents are safe and being cared for, and the team at Midleton Community Hospital are working to all families directly today."
Cork Kerry Community Healthcare said that its work today will focus on helping residents who were living in the part of the building affected by flooding, and in making sure they settle them into interim accommodation.
It said that residents of the Owenacurra Centre also moved safely yesterday, and are being accommodated nearby while they assess the damage to the centre.
The McAuley Day Centre; Public Health Nursing clinics; dental services and physiotherapy services located on the grounds of the community hospital are closed today. They are assessing the situation and will issue an update about tomorrow as soon as possible.
"In relation to Midleton Community Hospital, we wish to acknowledge the huge effort by staff across the HSE to ensure that residents were safe and cared for last night. Colleagues from our Estates team remained on site overnight, and are provided ongoing to the Midleton Community Hospital team. The dedicated staff of the Community Hospital ensured that residents were safe and comfortable overnight, despite yesterday afternoon’s challenges," the spokesperson said.
12.40pm
Cork City Council is advising that the R639 from Dunkettle - Vienna Woods is now open for local access only to the hotel.
The hotel entrance north is still closed & works are continuing to open this section of the road.
Council crews are also working to free up the R610 at Hop Island and Monastery Hill.
⚠️Update⚠️
— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) October 19, 2023
Crews are currently working to free up R610 at top Island and monastery Hill.
Please approach the area with caution.@CorkCityFire @CorkSafetyAlert pic.twitter.com/eosBXrHJY7
Cork County Council is advising that the Civic Amenity Site in Raffeen remains closed today following the storm.
11.50am
A status yellow rain warning has been issued for Cork.
Met Éireann is warning that heavy rain and showers overnight tonight and into Friday morning, coupled with waterlogged soils and high river levels is likely to lead to further localised flooding and dangerous travelling conditions.
The warning also affects Kerry and Limerick.
It comes into effect at 11pm and continues until 9am tomorrow morning.
11.42am
Uisce Éireann said it is working to restore water supply as quickly as possible to customers in Midleton and surrounding areas following a shutdown of the Midleton Water Treatment due to Storm Babet.
It said that as a result, customers in the area may experience low pressure and/or interruptions to their water supply.
Dedicated water services engineers have completed initial repair works at the water treatment plant, however, further works are required to restore water to all customers.
“The effects of yesterday’s heavy rainfall from Storm Babet forced the water treatment plant to shutdown. Expert crews have managed to get the plant back into operation, however, further works are required to fully restore the water supply to all customers. We regret any inconvenience as a result of this issue and thank the local community for their patience," said Water Operations Lead for Uisce Éireann, Niall O’Riordan.
The Uisce Éireann customer care helpline is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also us on X (formerly Twitter) @IWCare with any queries.
11:21am
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is due to arrive in Midleton today to survey the damage caused by Storm Babet.
A major clean-up operation is under way after flooding swamped several towns and villages across Cork during Storm Babet.
9:56AM
CORK TD James O'Connor has said Met Éireann must explain why a Status Red warning was not issued for Cork given the level of damage in Midleton.
He said on X: "Midleton has always been the beating heart of East Cork. It’s devastating to see the extent of the damage here. Met Éireann must urgently explain why no red level weather warning was issued. Widespread damage across East Cork will require major from the government."
Midleton has always been the beating heart of East Cork. It’s devastating to see the extent of the damage here. Met Éireann must urgently explain why no red level weather warning was issued. Widespread damage across East Cork will require major from the government. pic.twitter.com/5gNLdmzBYD
— James O'Connor TD (@JamesOConnorTD) October 18, 2023
9:06AM
There are reports of cars being abandoned on the Banduff Road this morning as motorists struggle to get through flooding.
8.28AM
The N25 at Castlemartyr and Mogeely Road is closed, as is the Lower Glanmire Road approaching Glanmire.
The R579 and the Lee Road are also closed.
Cork City Council crews were inspecting the Carrigrohane Straight this morning.
Centre Park Road has partially opened.
8.12AM
Rail services between Kent Station on the city and Cobh/Midleton are suspended until further notice.
A massive clean up in the town is expected to begin today as businesses and locals get to grips with the extent of the damage.
Update: engers are reminded that services are suspended between Cork Kent and Cobh/Midleton until further notice. Bus transfers are in operation on the Cork commuter network. Bus transfers are not possible at present to Glounthaune or Midleton due to road flooding. -AD https://t.co/1ATgjnQwkG
— Iarnród Éireann (@IrishRail) October 19, 2023
7.33AM
A number of roads in Cork remain imable this morning as Cork deals with the aftermath of Storm Babet.
The N25 at Castlemartyr is still imable to traffic. Diversion via routes via Tallow, Conna, Rathcormac, Dunkettle remain in place.
Cork County Council has urged motorists to drive with care this morning.
Then council said: "Please take care if travelling this morning. A number of roads are closed and imable. Please be aware of standing water with damage to roads and be especially conscious of vulnerable roads s such as pedestrians and cyclists."
🛑 The N25 at Castlemartyr is still imible to traffic. Diversion routes via Tallow, Conna, Rathcormac, Dunkettle remain in place 🛑 pic.twitter.com/2FTlYdVefn
— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) October 19, 2023
Cork City Council has thanked the emergency services for the role they played on a "challenging day" yesterday as a month's level of rain fell in one day.
The local authority said on social media: "We would like to thank our colleagues across operations, drainage, environment, roads, infrastructure & community, along with @CorkCityFire , @cc_civildefence , @GardaTraffic & @defenceforces for working together today to help communities across Cork during a challenging day.
"We will continue to update you on road closures and openings, as we continue to assess the damage caused by #StormBabet.
"We would also like to thank the Public for providing useful information to us and our colleagues throughout the day."
We will continue to update you on road closures and openings, as we continue to assess the damage caused by #StormBabet.
— Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) October 18, 2023
We would also like to thank the Public for providing useful information to us and our colleagues throughout the day.@CorkSafetyAlert
CORK is waking up this morning to assess the damage left behind by Storm Babet
of the army were deployed to Midleton to deal with extensive flooding due to Storm Babet.
⚠️ Please take care if travelling this morning. A number of roads are closed and imable. Please be aware of standing water with damage to roads and be especially conscious of vulnerable roads s such as pedestrians and cyclists ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/yg3ckYQakJ
— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) October 19, 2023
The army and civil defence units ed evacuation measures in the town where more than 100 properties were flooded.
A number of businesses, including a prominent supermarket, were damaged by severe flooding.
Cork County Council said more than a month’s worth of rain had fallen in the space of 24 hours, leading to unprecedented flooding, saturated land and high river levels across the county.
Tánaiste Micheal Martin and Minister Simon Coveney said the Government will provide through the Humanitarian Assistance Scheme.
Mr Coveney said the flooding had “caused carnage” across the county while Environment Minister Eamon Ryan said his “heart goes out to all the residents and businesses” affected following Storm Babet.
Independent councillor for East Cork Liam Quaide said the scenes of flooding on Mill Street and Main Street in Midleton were “apocalyptic”.
Mr Quaide told the PA news agency:
“The scenes of devastation in Midleton today were an ominous sign of what is ahead of us as a nation if we don’t double down on climate mitigation and adaptation.
“I’d like to commend the heroic work of Cork County Council staff, the Fire Service and Civil Defence Forces who worked around the clock evacuating and providing assistance to many people in distress.”
Local Liam MacCarthaigh said he had been temporarily “stranded” during the after-school run in the town due to the floods.
The council’s severe weather assessment team continues to monitor the impact on communities as flooding was also reported in Whitegate, Rathcormac, Glandore, Ringaskiddy, Carrigaline, Raffeen, Halfway and Casteltownbere.
The N71 is closed at Rosscarbery and at Innishannon with reports of flooding at the Halfway roundabout, while the R610 in Carrigaline was described as “virtually imable”.
A boil water notice was issued to protect the health of those supplied by Whitegate Public Water Supply, impacting consumers in Aghada, Churchtown, Ballycotton, Saleen, Shanagarry, Ballinacura and areas of Cloyne.
Five counties on the south and south-east coasts of Ireland were subject to orange rain warnings on Wednesday.
The orange warning issued by forecaster Met Eireann for counties Cork and Kerry ended at 1pm, for Waterford at 4pm, while it remained in place for Wexford and Wicklow until 8pm as the storm tracked northward.
Euan Whelton, 21, from the village of Glandore, in Co Cork, said he has not seen flooding “this bad” for 10 years.
Mr Whelton, an agriculture worker, said the Skibbereen Fire Brigade pumped water from the area for “five or six hours” on Tuesday but said it remained underwater on Wednesday afternoon.
He said that the harbour village was “closed down” in 2013 due to heavy flooding and told the PA news agency: “I would say in 10 years it hasn’t been this bad.” He added: “There were a few houses down there that were flooded, there was probably a foot or two of water inside the houses.
“There was a riverbank burst and it flooded on the houses down there. There was a high tide as well so it was hard to get the water out.
“The fire brigade was there for probably five or six hours pumping it out but it’s still all underwater at the moment (Wednesday afternoon).” Mr Whelton added that in one of his cousin’s houses, the water was “coming in the back door and going straight out the front door”.
Co Cork mayor Frank O’Flynn said one month’s worth of rain had fallen in 24 hours.
“This is on top of already saturated lands and high river levels,” he said.
“It is evidence, if any were needed, of our changing climate and the issues that it presents.
“I am especially conscious of the advanced preparations that were undertaken by Cork County Council in mitigating the effects of this event and how, despite every effort, homes, businesses and road s have been impacted.
“Areas where flood defence schemes have been completed fared far better than others in the face of this deluge.
“I know from speaking with council staff that some of the issues they are dealing with are unprecedented, with roads which have never flooded now under water.
“I am calling on the people of Cork to please avoid unnecessary travel, take extreme care if you must set off on a journey and please think of vulnerable road s, especially pedestrians and cyclists.
“As a council, we will continue to work across the county, both in a preventative capacity while also dealing with issues as they arise.
“The results of this weather event will be long felt as we move toward a clean-up phase but can I please reiterate the importance of staying safe and together we will come through this weather event.”
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