People asked to work from home amid rain warnings in place in 18 counties

Parts of Ireland have already flooded amid rain warnings in place in 18 counties across the island.

Authorities have asked those in the impacted counties to work from home on Friday if they can in order to “free up roads for essential services”.

The areas expected to be worst-hit are those that have already flooded in recent days, including those in Dublin, Louth and Waterford.

On Thursday afternoon, flooding was evident in parts of Clontarf in north Dublin and along Dart tracks on the Dublin coast.

Barry Kenny, of Irish Rail, said that Dart lines remained closed between Lansdowne Road and Dun Laoghaire, due to flooding “up to platform level” at some locations, including Blackrock.

“This really is very, very severe, I think it’s unlikely that we will be back this evening,” he said, adding that there could be further disruption in the morning.

Irish forecaster Met Eireann said spells of “very heavy rain” will be falling on “already saturated ground” and that this, combined with high river levels and high tides, was likely to lead to more flooding and travel disruption.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Group warned of “another challenging phase” and said local authority teams had offered people sandbags, drain clearances and other flood prevention works.

The group met on Thursday to co-ordinate the latest response to severe flooding and has emphasised that heavy rain in one county can impact on flood-prone areas in an area where less significant rain has fallen.

“Those in the impacted counties, who have the discretion to work from home tomorrow, Friday, are urged to do so in order to free up roads for essential services,” it said on Thursday.

It also warned that the risk of flooding will continue into the weekend as water moves down through the catchments.

The Government has offered financial support for homes and businesses affected by recent flooding.

Following recent rainfall, many rivers are at or above bank-full levels.

Meanwhile, strong onshore winds and storm surge will increase the risk of wave overtopping and coastal flooding.

Status orange rain warnings are in place for Wicklow and Dublin from midday on Thursday until 3pm on Friday and for Waterford from 9am on Thursday until 9am on Friday.

A yellow warning for those counties had been in place from 9am on Thursday until noon on Friday.

An orange warning is in place for Louth from midday on Thursday and 6pm on Friday.

Status yellow warnings for rain are in place for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford and Tipperary from 9am on Thursday until 9am on Friday.

Cavan, Meath and Monaghan are also under a status yellow warning for rain between midday on Thursday and 6pm on Friday.

In Northern Ireland, the Met Office has issued a yellow warning for rain between midday on Thursday and just before midnight on Friday for counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Londonderry and Tyrone.

It is warning that heavy rain may lead to some flooding and travel disruption.

It said: “Rain is expected to be particularly persistent over the east and south east-facing slopes of the Mourne Mountains and Antrim Hills, which may receive 60-80mm; here low impacts are most likely overall with a small chance they could be medium.”

Further rain is projected next week.