Live weather: Storm Bert — Threat to homes as red warning issued ...

For Cork, Met Éireann said the highest accumulations of rain are expected in west Cork, with the warning in place from midnight until 10am on Saturday. The same warning applies to Galway, with the highest accumulations expected in the west of the county.

The impacts include "severe flooding, damage to homes and businesses and dangerous or treacherous travelling conditions". 

Vulnerable areas

On the back of the red warning, Cork County Council's severe weather assessment team convened this afternoon.

The council currently has staff monitoring the situation in "vulnerable areas" such as Bantry and Midleton throughout the night.

Clouds part to reveal a blue sky over the Blasket Islands on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry on Thursday. Picture: Don MacMonagle

According to the council, crews have inspected key high-risk areas, and "pumping arrangements are in place in known problem locations."

Sandbags are also available at priority locations, and flood barriers have been installed in Mallow and Fermoy as a precaution.

In a statement, a council spokesperson said: "Issues such as flooding and road damage can be reported over the course of the weekend to the Council’s Emergency Out of Hours number (021) 4800048.

"In the event of an emergency call 999 or 112 and request the Fire Service, Ambulance Service, Gardaí or Irish Coastguard as appropriate. DO NOT assume others will do this."

Travel disruption

Also following an assessment, Bus Éireann has decided to cancel a number of its services in Cork and Galway.

The cancelled services on Friday evening include the 21:40 service from Killarney to Skibbereen, while the 18:00 Skibbereen to Killarney service will only operate to Kenmare.

Elsewhere on Saturday, the following services have been impacted:

07:00 Route 236: Bantry/Cork cancelled  09:35 Glengarriff/Cork cancelled  08:30 Cork/Castletownbere cancelled  06:45 Route 237: Skibbereen/Cork cancelled  07:50 Goleen/Cork cancelled  09:00 Route 270: Killarney/Skibbereen cancelled 06:00 Skibbereen/Killarney cancelled  08:00 Bantry/Skibbereen cancelled  Route 270: Killarney/Kenmare services: prior to 10:00hrs, services will operate to Glenflesk only  Route 279: Tralee/Killarney via Killorglin: prior to 10:00hrs, services will operate Tralee/Killarney direct via N22, not serving Milltown/Killorglin 07:05 Route 434: Clifden/Westport cancelled  09:05 Clifden/Westport  cancelled  07:10 Westport/Clifden cancelled  09:10 Westport/Clifden cancelled

All other services in Cork and Galway are scheduled to operate as normal but are likely to be subject to delays.

Bus Éireann is advising all passengers to check the 'service updates' section of their website before travelling. 

In a statement, a company spokesperson said: "Bus Éireann will continue to monitor weather advisories as well as road conditions in the coming days and any service disruptions will be posted on our website.

"The safety of our passengers and staff is of paramount importance to Bus Éireann and we would encourage all customers to plan their journeys in advance, allowing extra time for their journey, during this period of adverse weather.

"Bus Éireann apologises to customers for any inconvenience caused."

"Rare and very dangerous weather conditions"

A status red warning is rarely issued and is for "extremely dangerous or destructive" weather. When it is issued, "people in the areas expected to be affected should take action to protect themselves and/or their properties". Red warnings are issued for "rare and very dangerous weather conditions from intense meteorological phenomena".

For rain, red warnings are issued when there is expected to be: 

Greater than 50mm in 6 hours or less;  Greater than 60mm in 12 hours or less;  Greater than 80mm in 24 hours or less.

The warnings come on the back of freezing conditions, which saw up to 20mm of snow blanket some areas of Munster and Connacht, and temperatures drop down to -5C.

The orange rain warning ahead of Storm Bert has also been extended and has now been issued for Waterford, Kerry, Clare, Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim. This warning will also be in place from midnight until 10am on Saturday with the forecaster warning of surface flooding, possible river flooding, very difficult travelling conditions and poor visibility.

A status yellow wind and rain warning for Leinster, Munster, Connacht, Cavan and Monaghan has also been put in place from 10pm on Friday until midday on Saturday. 

A separate status yellow snow, ice, rain and wind warning, in place from 10pm Friday to midday on Saturday, has also been issued for Donegal.

The forecaster says Storm Bert, a low-pressure system, is currently forming in the Atlantic. As it moves closer to Ireland, it will displace the current cold Arctic air introducing very strong winds and heavy rain.

A dog and their owner walking in Westport as difficult road conditions in Mayo after heavy snowfall. Picture: Conor McKeown

Met Éireann meteorologist Andrew Doran-Sherlock says the storm will bring milder but "very wet and windy conditions for the weekend".

"Heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday will likely lead to localised flooding in urban areas and some river catchments particularly in the west and southwest, as this rain is falling on already saturated and waterlogged ground," he said.

Temperatures will rise with highs of 12C to 15C on Saturday and 10C to 13C on Sunday. At night, the mercury will only fall to lows of 5C or 6C.

Mr Doran-Scott said Met Éireann are monitoring the situation closely and will "upgrade/issue warnings as Met Éireann’s high-resolution model (which provides information two days ahead) is analysed".

"There’s a strong likelihood of status orange wind warnings in western and northwestern counties," he added.

The impacts from Storm Bert will commence later on Friday and will continue through the weekend and potentially through early next week as well. 

Ahead of Storm Bert's arrival tonight, flood barriers will be erected at two Cork towns — Mallow and Fermoy.

Cork County Council’s severe weather assessment team met on Thursday afternoon, with the local authority saying council crews will be deployed to inspect key high-risk areas and will continue to monitor the situation throughout the weather event.

"Pumping arrangements will be in place in known problem locations. Sandbags will be available at priority locations. Flood barriers will be installed in Mallow and Fermoy as a precaution,” it said.

“Members of the public are advised to exercise caution as driving conditions may be dangerous overnight on Friday and into Saturday morning, with spot flooding possible.

“Motorists are advised to avoid driving through flowing or standing water and to exercise caution during heavy rain. Motorists are also asked to be conscious of cyclists, pedestrians and other vulnerable road users."

Frozen dew drops cling to leaves. Picture: Chani Anderson

On Friday, the council said road surfaces remained slippery in parts of Kanturk, Charleville, and Newmarket, and urged motorist to drive with caution, even on roads that had been treated.

Kerry County Council said black ice patches had been reported on many roads around the county. A spokesperson urged motorists "to slow down, maintain greater distance to any car in front and be patient".

Arctic blast 

Meanwhile, a status yellow low temperature and ice warning remains in place for the whole of Ireland until midday on Friday.

This week's cold snap brought widespread disruption to parts of the west, southwest, and south, with heavy snowfalls forcing some school closures, as well as power outages, fallen trees and significant travel disruption.

Schools in parts of west Clare, west Limerick, Mayo, and Galway stayed closed on Thursday due to hazardous travelling conditions along certain bus routes.