*UPDATE* Wicklow Orange Rain Warning Change As Flood Risk Remains High

Dublin joins Wicklow and Waterford under Status Orange rainfall warnings for Thursday

A number of Orange and Yellow weather warnings have been issued as very heavy rain is expected in the east and southeast of the country.

In ever changing assessments, status orange warnings for rain have been issued for Dublin, Wicklow and Waterford, with a yellow warning in place for eight other counties.

The first orange warnings takes effect at 9am (Thursday) for Waterford with Met Éireann warning of heavy rain falling on already saturated ground, which could cause localised flooding, river flooding and difficult travel conditions.

The warning will be in effect until 9am tomorrow.(Friday) The second orange warning will be effect for Dublin and Wicklow from 12pm this afternoon until 12pm tomorrow.

Both counties are also subject to a Status Yellow warning for rain between 9am and 12pm. Motorists in affected areas are being warned not to drive into flood water.

Wicklow County Council said that it is in "a state of readiness" ahead of the orange warning.

On social media said it has taken a number of preventative measures, including outdoor crews working to clear drains and gullies that have become blocked with flood debris; crews prepared and ready to respond to areas likely to be impacted by forecast high intensity rainfall; and stocks of sandbags have been replenished and available at depots across the county.

It added that roads subject to flooding and structural damage have been closed to traffic and that work continues to assess the scale of damage caused to the road network.

Separately, a Status Yellow rain warning will be in place for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Wexford and Tipperary from 9am this morning until 9am tomorrow.

Cavan, Monaghan and Louth will also be under a Status Yellow rain warning from 12pm this afternoon until 12pm tomorrow.

In all cases, Met Éireann is warning that very heavy rain will fall on already saturated ground, which combined with high tides and high river levels, will lead to localised flooding, river flooding and difficult travelling conditions.

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