Severe flooding in Limerick, Cork and Galway as storms batter the country

Severe flooding is wreaking havoc across the country this morning as 130km/h winds hit and the highest tide of the year strikes.

Limerick city is experiencing unprecedented levels of flooding as council workers desperately try and stem the flow.

Houses, cars and shops have been destroyed by the deluge as howling winds and lashing rain pound the region.

An elderly woman had to be rescued by a team after her home was submerged in water.

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limerick rescue

Achill Island in Co Mayo was also battered by Storm Brigid last night.

Achill Island Coast Guard issued this warning: "Flooding in Achill this morning with the high tide.

"Flooding risk continues this evening with the second high tide of the day. This tide will be slightly lower than this morning but will be driven inland by storm force or even violent storm force winds."

Cork has also been battered once again as the River Lee bust its banks leading to more pain and hardship for people living in the water’s destructive path.

There are also 5,000 homes currently without power across the Munster region.

Met Eireann has issued an orange weather alert as 130 km/h winds are expected to rip across the nation.

A spokeswoman for Met Eireann said: “During Saturday 1 February southwest winds will attain mean speeds of 65-75km/h gusting 110-130km/h countrywide.

“High seas generated by these winds, pressure much lower than normal, and higher than normal tides will combine to put Atlantic coasts under threat of flooding.”

Severe storms battered Ireland again last night and Aer Lingus was forced to cancel up to 16 flights from Dublin Airport this morning as adverse weather took its toll.

The airline announced that the 6.25am flight to Madrid has been cancelled, as has the 6.30am flight to Manchester.

Other morning flights to Birmingham, Newcastle, Frankfurt, Alicante, Copenhagen, Cardiff, Isle of Man have also been cancelled.

Seven other flights this morning were all cancelled including Paris, Aberdeen, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Kerry and Bristol.

The airline has asked customers to contact the airline to reschedule their flight.

It said: “We're expecting high winds in Ireland tomorrow and this is the reason for the disruption."

SOURCE-IRISH MIRROR