The ESB is to increase the flow of water through the Inniscarra Dam on the River Lee in Cork by 10% from 150,000 litres/second to 165,000 litres/second.
The power company says the increase is due to heavy rain last night, and increased in-flows into its reservoirs on the River Lee at Inniscarra and Carrigadrohid.
The increased throughput at the Inniscarra Dam remains below the spill rate of 180,000 litres/second which was maintained for six days after Storm Desmond last week.
However, the ESB said water levels at the Inniscarra and Carrigadrohid reservoirs will be re-assessed tomorrow, and the flow from the Inniscarra Dam may need to be increased again.
The ESB is warning that the current flow rate of 165,000 litres/second from the Inniscarra Dam will cause flooding of roads, land and property adjacent to the banks of the River Lee, downstream of the Inniscarra Dam.
There remains an ongoing risk of flooding of the Lee Road and Carrigrohane Road. Traffic diversions will be in place as required. Flooding is not anticipated for Cork City Centre.
Earlier, the National Emergency Coordination Group said it appeared that river levels on the River Shannon had peaked and had fallen by around 4cm in the last 24 hours.
River Shannon levels falling, no rainfall warning expected. Levels still high Athlone - emergency centre latest. pic.twitter.com/HvdsvzafIW
— Ray Kennedy (@RayKennedyHack) December 16, 2015
However, river levels have not fallen in Athlone where the river rose by 1cm. The OPW expects it to start falling soon in Ire;and too.
Met Éireann told today's briefing more rain is expected in the coming days, but while heavy it will not be at warning alert level.
They also say dry periods in between will keep levels down.
The army said up to 1,000 personnel are still involved in assisting areas already affected by the severe flooding that has taken place. Local authorities remain at full capacity in terms of assistance operations.
They said as river levels fall, it may still take some time, perhaps weeks, for all flood plains to clear.
