Irish weather: Seven counties under Status Orange and Yellow rain warnings as Met Éireann forecasts thunder and flooding

A Status Orange rain warning for three counties bringing “very heavy and persistent rain” has been the cause of the localised flooding.

Kerry and Cork have been under the warning since midnight, while Waterford’s warning came into effect from midday.

All three counties are seeing river and coastal flooding, dangerous travelling conditions and travel disruption until the warning expires at midnight.

Cork County Council teams, assisted by Cork Fire Brigade, were conducting emergency pumping operations in the west Cork town of Bantry which was hit by flooding at low tide.

There is growing concern at the prospect of further damaging flooding in the town on Saturday night and into the early hours of Sunday morning when high tide occurs and rainfall on local mountains begins to hit streams and rivers.

Two streets were left flooded in Bantry town by lunchtime and up to a dozen premises were hit by flood waters.

Flood waters poured up drains as water pressure mounted because of the heavy…