Orange Rain Warning for Cork as RSA Urges Road Users to Exercise Caution During Storm Austen

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is asking road users to exercise caution while using the roads on Thursday and Friday. Met Éireann has issued Orange and Yellow Weather warnings, with Storm Austen bringing heavy rain that will spread eastwards across the country.

Orange Rain Warnings are in place for Cork, Kerry and Waterford from 10pm Thursday to 5am Friday, and for Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow from 2am to 8am Friday. Storm Austen will bring intense rain in these areas. This could lead to disruption and delays to public transport (rail, bus) and very difficult travel conditions, and flooding is expected.

A Yellow Rain and Wind Warning is in place for Ireland from 7pm Thursday to 10am Friday, where heavy rain associated with Storm Austen will spread eastwards across the country. Strong easterly winds will back northwesterly and strengthen further, especially in the south and southeast. There may be difficult travelling conditions with localised flooding possible, and outdoor events may be impacted. There also may be debris, loose objects displaced and some fallen trees and branches.

Road users in areas affected by the Orange Warning are recommended to check local traffic and weather conditions before setting out on a journey.

The RSA advises drivers to slow down and allow a greater braking distance between themselves and the vehicle in front in wet weather conditions. This is especially important on high-speed roads such as dual carriageways and motorways, where there is increased danger of aquaplaning. Drivers should take special care when driving behind goods vehicles, as they generate a considerable amount of spray, which reduces visibility, and should hold back to where they can see their mirrors.

If the road ahead is flooded, choose another route and do not attempt to drive through it. Flooded roads that appear shallow could be deeper than you think. The verge may have subsided, and there may also be trees or branches that have fallen that may not be visible. Road users should always follow recommended routes and obey signs closing roads to traffic that have been put there by the local council or An Garda Síochána.

After going through water, drive slowly with your foot on the brake pedal for a short distance, as this helps to dry the brakes. Drivers should drive with dipped headlights at all times to ensure that they are visible and that they can see other road users.

Drivers should beware of objects being blown out onto the road and watch out for falling or fallen debris and vehicles veering across the road. Control of a vehicle may be affected by strong cross winds, and high-sided vehicles and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to strong winds. Drivers should allow extra space between themselves and vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists, as they may be blown off course by strong winds.

The RSA also has advice for road users such as pedestrians, cyclists, e-scooters and motorcyclists. If there are no footpaths, walk on the right-hand side of the road, facing traffic. Cyclists should ensure that they and their bike are visible to other road users with a good set of front and rear lights (white at the front, red at the back) and clothes that help them be seen, and should consider wearing high visibility material.

Take extra care when crossing the road or cycling in extremely windy conditions, as a sudden gust of wind could blow you into the path of an oncoming vehicle.

For advice on severe weather driving tips, see the severe weather advice on the RSA website or the RSA Facebook and Twitter pages. For more weather updates, visit Met Éireann’s website at www.met.ie.