The north, west and midlands recorded heavy rainfall over the weekend, with 21.8mm in Athenry, Co Galway, on Sunday alone. Markree Castle, Co Sligo, recorded 11.3mm on Saturday and 14.4mm on Sunday, or over 25mm during the weekend. Data from Belmullet, Co Mayo, tells a similar story, with 7.6mm on Saturday and 18.4mm on Sunday bringing the weekend total to 26mm.

The heavy rainfall was not confined to coastal areas, with extremely wet weather on Sunday in Ballyhaise, Co Cavan (14mm), Claremorris, Co Mayo (13.1mm), Mount Dillon, Co Roscommon (14.5mm), and Mullingar, Co Westmeath (13.1mm).

The south and east largely escaped the weekend’s double-digit rainfall, with 6.4mm recorded between Saturday and Sunday in Sherkin Ireland, Co Cork, around 5mm at Dublin weather stations and 6.4mm at Johnswtown Castle, Co Wexford.

Data up to 26 February show that this month has already seen double January’s rainfall at Ballyhaise, Mount Dillon and at several Dublin stations. Only Roches Point, Co Cork, and Valentia Island, Co Kerry, have seen less rain in February than in January.

Meanwhile, a status yellow wind warning is in place until 1pm this Tuesday for counties Donegal, Mayo and Sligo, with mean wind speeds of 50-65km/h and gusts of up to 110km/h.

With more rain forecast for the rest of this week, dairy specialist Aidan Brennan advises farmers to prepare for the worst and plan for extended livestock housing.

Find more advice on how to deal with wet conditions in the next issue of the Irish Farmers Journal this Sunday.