A yellow weather alert remains in place for Munster, Leinster and Connacht along with Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan until later this evening.
According to Met Eireann, this alert means:
Met Eireann is advising that south-west winds will range from 45 to 60 kilometers an hour, gusting up to 110 kilometres at times.
Winds will be at their strongest in southern, western and northern coastal areas with high tides in some parts.
Blustery this eve / early tonight with widespread showers, many heavy with risk of thunder. Strong SW winds highest along S, W and N coasts.
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 3, 2014
It follows extensive flooding across the country overnight and this morning which forced road closures in many parts and led to houses being flooded.
CORK: Reports of surface water on Cork/ Kinsale Rd (R600) between Belgooly & Riverstick so take extra care in area. http://t.co/nqdTLmlPQj
— The AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) January 3, 2014
Meanwhile in Galway, the city council is warning of further flooding at high tide this evening at 6.30pm.
Fr Griffin Road, Spanish Arch, Flood Street, Docks, and parts of the Promenade in Salthill have been worst affected.
ESB crews are working to restore supply to around 2,000 customers across the country.
Technicians are out repairing damage caused by the strong wind gusts and rain.
The worst hit areas are Connemara, Moycullen, Upper Salthill and Co Galway, Beaufort & Seam Co. Kerry, Bunclody Co. Wexford, Tullow Co. Carlow and Brinleck, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
LOUTH: The N52 Dundalk Bypass has reopened from Barrack St to Parkview Bridge following flooding.
— The AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) January 3, 2014
LIMERICK: Condell Rd has reopened following earlier flooding. http://t.co/nqdTLmlPQj
— The AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) January 3, 2014
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[/comment]Limerick City and County Council has advised motorists to avoid the St. Mary's Park, Corbally, Clancy Strand and Condell Road areas where possible.
The flooding in Askeaton, Co. Limerick hit eight houses on the Quays and Askeaton Swimming Pool is closed until Monday but the gym remains open.
They also said around 39 premises, including homes and businesses, were affected by the flood in Foynes.
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[/comment]Around 12,000 Eircom customers are currently without service today.
The provider says fault levels remain high in many parts of the country due to the continued adverse weather conditions.
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[/comment]The worst affected areas include coastal areas of the south-east - Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Wexford, the South - south-west - Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Clare, the west and north-west - Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Donegal.
Eircom says the number is expected to rise as the volume of reported faults continues to increase due to the unprecedented level of sustained severe weather during the past three weeks.
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[/comment]Extensive flooding has been causing difficulties for people across the west of Ireland.
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[/comment]Meanwhile, the Road Safety Authority, is asking road users to remain cautious while using the roads this evening.
Met Éireann is warning of strong winds and a drop in temperature tonight with the possibility of frost.
Dublin's Victoria Quay on the South Quays has reopened, but along the North Quays, Wolfe Tone Quay has been closed.
Galway City Council is advising people of the potential of further flooding in parts of the city later today.
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[/comment]Galway City Council says due to extensive flooding at the Leisureland centre earlier, the complex will remain closed to the public until at least Monday to allow flooding to subside.
Flooding and high winds caused extensive problems for many homeowners and business people across the country with the west and south the worst affected.
LOUTH: Blackrock Rd in Dundalk is impassable due to flooding. http://t.co/nqdTLmlPQj
— The AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) January 3, 2014
DUB: The East Link Toll Bridge has now reopened following earlier flooding. http://t.co/nqdTLmlPQj
— The AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) January 3, 2014
DUBLIN: Victoria Quay on the South Quays has reopened.
— The AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) January 3, 2014
LIMERICK The N21 Limerick/ Tralee Rd has reopened through Adare following earlier #flooding http://t.co/r19oH1cxgs
— The AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) January 3, 2014
GALWAY: The Coast Rd (R336) is now passable between Furbogh and Spiddal. http://t.co/nqdTLmlPQj
— The AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) January 3, 2014
People are being advised to avoid coastal areas due to high winds and storm surges.
Flooding advice is available on www.flooding.ie. Information included on the website includes advice on identifying flooding risks, protecting property against flooding, necessary steps to be taken if a property is flooded, and assessing and repairing property damaged by flooding.
In Lahinch in Clare, the Promenade and Liscannor Road are both impassable while spot flooding remains around Belmullet and Westport.
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[/comment]Clare saw homes and businesses flooded in the seaside village which has been hit with a mixture of spring tides, strong winds and heavy rains.
Gardaí and emergency evacuated premises along the promenade after 6am this morning, and a number of roads in the area are impassable.
Clare County Council said that the promenade will remain closed to the public until further notice after the Promenade walkways and seawall were "seriously comprised" during stormy weather overnight.
Speaking to Clare FM, Lahinch Councillor Bill Slattery says the damage caused by the storm is extensive.
Council Senior Engineer, Tom Tiernan said: "We are advising members of the public to stay away from the seafront for their own safety to enable the authorities to assess the damage caused to the promenade. Flooding is receding in the Promenade area. However, the threat of further flooding remains with this evening’s high tide a source of concern. In advance of this we are urging home and business owners, particularly those in low lying coastal areas, to take precautionary steps."
The nearby Cliffs of Moher has been closed due to high winds.
Around the country, there is flooding on the Carrigaline to Crosshaven Road in Cork, in Limerick city, the river Shannon has burst its banks at Condell Rd and the road remains closed.
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[/comment]Flooding is also causing problems in New Ross in Wexford and on the Blackrock Road in Dundalk, county Louth.
Meanwhile, weather conditions are improving in county Kerry after being battered by high winds and flooding.
Houses were flooded in Tralee and Ballylongford while, houses near the Cashen are also flooded and walkway railings have been damaged.
Speaking to Radio Kerry, Kerry County Councillor Liam Purtill says it was the worst flooding in Ballylongford in 45 years.
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[/comment]Motorists are being advised to drive with extreme care and avoid some coastal routes, with Met Éireann warning that the weather won't improve until later today, with gusts of over 100 kilometres per hour forecast.
It has issued a “status orange” weather warning, with gusts of up to 130kph (80mph) hitting Connacht, Donegal, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick.
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[/comment]Towns have been flooded and thousands of homes left without power as strong winds and heavy rain batter the country.
Stormy this morn, gusts 100-130km/h. Heavy prolonged shwrs with thunderstorms also. Risk of flooding and some dangerous road conditions. ...
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 3, 2014
... The storm will abate slowly through the day & showers will ease. Highs 5 to 9 deg.
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 3, 2014
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[/comment]Several ferry services have been cancelled as gale to storm force winds continue on all Irish coastal waters and on the Irish Sea, with violent storm force 11 winds for a time on coasts from Slyne Head to Malin Head.