Rain, High Winds and Weather Warnings Strike Again-Ireland

Greetings everyone from a very dark, wet and worried Ireland. 

It is 3:30 in the afternoon here but the storm clouds are making it dark enough to need lights on in the house, if you want to be sure not to stumble over one of the cats.

I have granted the younger barn-cats-in-training a down comforter day in the bedroom, this is partly enlightened self interest on my part.  The older cats know it is fruitless to spend hours yowling at the window and go peacefully into their plastic cat huts during this sort of weather (or at least that is the theory anyway); the younger two are just likely to drive us crazy in the kitchen until we let them back in when their playground is soaking wet.  Why can't Mummy just make the trees and grass all dry again?

Mummy would love to, I'm sure lots of folks in Cork would like to have that power as well.  Instead as RTE headline reports, they are holding their breath to see if they are in for new flooding:


Worries over Cork flooding
Saturday, 5 December 2009 15:24

Authorities in Cork are warning of potential flooding in the city centre because of high tides.

Businesses and householders in low-lying areas of the city centre have been asked to take precautionary measures to protect property.

Tide levels are expected to increase when a strong south easterly wind, combines with heavy rainfall and low air pressure.

I gather that people in Limerick and other cities and other already flooded areas are also pretty nervous.  As the Irish Times puts out this from our National Weather Service:

irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Saturday, December 5, 2009, 11:28
Severe weather alert issued
IRISH TIMES REPORTERS

Met Éireann has issued a severe weather warning for today, with heavy rainfall and strong winds expected to affect all parts of the country.

The forecaster said the day would start off dry in many areas but that rain would first develop in the southwest before spreading to all areas by mid-afternoon, which could increase the risk of flooding in already waterlogged areas.

It was predicted that between 25mm and 40mm of rain could fall between yesterday evening and midnight tonight, and Met Éireann cautioned that south to southwest winds could reach speeds of 80 to 110kph.

These winds are expected to be strongest in exposed parts of the country such as the west and northwest.

Me, I'm very happy that so far my husband's office seems to be dry.  He and our house-mate having gone to Dublin for the day while I stayed home to try and completely throw off this nasty bug that has stalked me for most of the week.  I had not planned moving boxes or furniture as part of my recovery exercises and so far this has not been required, though I am checking every couple of hours.

I am unhappy that the winds have blown my TV dish off again and that makes it hard to watch Disaster Cat type documentaries on the various TV channels as I like to do when I am not feeling up to par.  Nothing like seeing how many ways the world can end, to make you appreciate still breathing in an existing one.

So, instead of watching "The Telly" for news, I'm spending Saturday beside the computer with a warm cup of tea and kitties.  Glancing outside ever so often to see if the old creek has come up out of the ground again or if the horses are taking another mud bath.

I will report later with more news if there is anything serious flood wise to report.  Meanwhile I will go back to reading the local on-line papers and guess the chances of the government falling over next weeks purposed austerity budget.  More on that later...

Disaster Cat...off to find her husband's wellie boots to feed the outside barn cats..