Travel Warning -expired- Intense Spot rainfall 03/08 (Connacht)

Sponge Bob

This is a warning to all Bank Holiday travellers.

It was flagged up earlier by MT in his Daily Forecast and the real time information from Deep Easterly and radar have confirmed it.

INTENSE bands of rain showers have developed for this afternoon in these locations.

1. Connacht (all)
2. West Leinster and S Ulster (Offaly to Cavan)
3. North Munster (Tipp/Clare/Limerick)

IT IS EXTREMELY Dangerous to drive in these conditions. If you encounter a shower take a 30 minute break if possible and let the shower and associated roadspray pass on. Then continue your journey.

Main Roads affected right now are:

M4/M1/M7/M11 near Dublin.
N and M18/N17/ Galway Mayo and Clare
N and M20 Limerick
N21 Limerick.
N24 Limerick
M6 in Galway and Roscommon.
M7 Limerick/Tipp/Offaly
N4 West of Millingar.

Interests travelling long distance today should keep a close eye on the near real time radar available on http://m.met.ie/ and plan on slowing to no more than 60kph or else stopping temporarily in 'red' areas.

It is anticipated that much of the dangerous showery weather will clear by 9pm Friday and that travel will be much safer thereafter.

Remember if you stop, stop for 20 minutes and resume your journey. Pull well in off the road.

Sponge Bob

Prepare for an extension of the warning zone to Limerick Tipperary Rosocommon and Westmeath where dangerous driving conditions may be encountered by 3PM

Dublin Kildare Meath and Wicklow are clearing now but may disimprove later.

If you hit an intense shower when driving.

1. Slow down to 60kph max.
2. Put on full lights ( not beams)
3. Engage fog lights when in strong rainfall. Even at 60kph visibility is highly constrained.
4. Prepare to pull off road for a few minutes to allow the rain to clear. Garages all sell decent coffee nowadays. Take a break.

Diosengage fog lights when rainfall eases.

Larbre34

All quiet in Dublin for the moment, skies look quite benign but the SE breeze has picked up since the morning

Regarding the travel advice, no one should stop on a Motorway in any circumstances except in case of a breakdown. It is illegal anyway and you are in far more danger stationary in downpour conditions from passing vehicles that may aquaplane or get disoriented. Keep moving at a minimum of 50 kph at all times and use any parking halts or service areas as you find them. If you see black clouds or rain falling in the distance perhaps plan to stop in advance at the next opportunity, particularly if you are nervous about driving in heavy rain

Not

The biggest danger on the motorways in heavy rain are drivers who brake suddenly in poor visibility when in a traffic flow, causing mayhem. This is a major cause of pile ups in bad weather on the motorway. Please also take this into consideration when considering Sponge Bobs advice - drive with extreme caution, but do not cause a sudden obstruction to a traffic flow in poor visibility.