Met Éireann issues flood risk advisory amid 'exceptionally high spring tides'

The forecaster said it expects wind warnings to be issued on Saturday night into Sunday.

It comes on the back of an advisory from Cork City Council of “very high astronomical spring tides” between now and Sunday evening.

The council advised households and businesses to take precautionary measures to protect their property during the high tidal events.

It said road ponding/flooding is likely to occur in the low-lying areas of the city, particularly during the high tides on Thursday and Friday.

Among the locations likely to be affected by potential flooding are:

• Morrison's Quay;
• Fr Mathew Quay;
• Fr Mathew Street;
• Union Quay;
• Trinity Bridge;
• South Terrace;
• Rutland Street;
• Sawmill Street;
• Crosses Green;
• Sharman Crawford St;
• Wandesford Quay;
• South Mall (particularly the southern side);
• Kyrls Quay;
• Lavitts Quay;
• Lapps Quay;
• Proby’s Quay;
• French’s Quay;
• Sullivan’s Quay 

Tide timings

High tide on Thursday morning was 5.48am, while this evening’s high tide is expected at 6.12pm. Morning high tide on Friday will take place at 6.32am with the evening high tide expected at 6.55pm.

On Saturday, morning high tide will take place at 7.15am, while evening high tide will take place at 7.38pm with Sunday's morning high tide at 7.58am and evening high tide expected at 8.20pm.

“The situation will continue to be monitored and further advice will be issued, if the situation changes,” a Cork City Council spokesperson said.

Regular updates of any further alerts will be posted on the council’s website and social media channels.

National outlook 

More generally, the weather on Thursday morning has been largely dry across the south and east, though Met Éireann says some scattered showers will push in from the Atlantic later on.

Highest temperatures on Thursday will range from 13C to 16C. As noted above, there is also the likelihood of flooding in coastal areas due to very high spring tides.

Thursday night will also be largely dry and clear, though some cloud and scattered falls of drizzle will move in across the country later on. Temperatures on Thursday night will fall back to around 7C to 10C.

Met Éireann says that Friday is predicted to be a dull and rather windy day with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, particularly in the western half of the country, where “some sharp thundery falls” are likely to result in spot flooding.

Sunnier spells and isolated showers will follow into the west and southwest later in the afternoon however, with the worst of the rain arriving in the eastern half of the country. Highest temperatures on Friday will range from 14C to 16C.

On Friday night, the remaining rain will clear the east early in the night, with clear spells and isolated light showers following from the west. Temperatures Friday night will range from 7C to 10C in light to moderate southwesterly winds.

At this stage, Saturday looks set to be a mainly dry and bright day with sunny spells and some scattered showers. However, cloud will move in from the southwest later in the afternoon and evening with some rain likely to develop there later in the evening. Highest temperatures on Saturday will range from 11C to 14C.

Saturday night is forecast to be quite wet and windy with strong and gusty southerly winds and widespread, heavy rain at times. Temperatures on Saturday night will fall back to around 8C to 11C.

Met Éireann says that while there is some uncertainty around the forecast for Sunday, “current indications suggest it will be a windy day with very strong and gusty southwesterly winds and potential for coastal flooding”.

Rain is expected to clear early in the day giving way to a brief drier spell before showers or longer spells of rain follow for most of the country. Highest temperatures on Sunday will range from 12C to 15C.

By Sunday night, rain will have started to move northeastwards, with some clear spells developing. Temperatures on Sunday night will fall back to between 7C and 10C.