A Met Éireann meteorologist has said the weather situation last night was complex and evolving, with the decision to suddenly issue a Status Yellow warning at 2.37am taken after rain was falling heavier than previously indicated.
A Status Yellow rainfall alert was issued at 2.37am for counties Dublin and Wicklow and was valid from 2.36am, with the forecaster warning of flooding and difficult travelling conditions.
The warning expired at midday.
Parts of north Dublin experienced significant flooding, and Dublin City Council has said a full review is under way which will look at the timing of weather forecasts.
Questioned this afternoon about the late issuing of the warning and whether it could have been given earlier, Mark Bowe said it was "a complex and evolving" situation.
"There was an area of low pressure that brought a front to the eastern parts of the country. That rain was heavier than previously indicated," he said.
Met Éireann meteorologists were monitoring the situation overnight, he said, adding that they realised then that they had reached the threshold to issue a Status Yellow warning to advise people of the conditions they were waking up to.
"It became apparent overnight as meteorologists were on shift last night, currently watching the weather and seeing the rain as it was falling. They came to the realisation that it was actually heavier than had been indicated. That's when the decision was made to issue the Yellow warning."
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Rain and snow warnings issued as temperatures to drop as low as -4C
Mr Bowe said there was significant amounts of rain in parts of the country where the ground is already saturated, adding that last night's rainfall "certainly compounded things"
"The rainfall warning is now over and then some very cold weather overnight," he said, "temperatures getting down to -2C maybe -3C".
Met Éireann said there is more rain on the way for Saturday with Status Yellow rainfall warnings across western counties.
"Certainly as these weather situations are evolving, we do work a 24/7 shift and we have meteorologists constantly monitoring the situation. The models are always getting better and there will always be improvements being made."
