ANOTHER DANK HOLIDAY.

Byline: By NAOMI McELROY

TORRENTIAL rain turned the bank holiday weekend into a wet and windy wash out.

Flash flooding and surface water all combined to make conditions extra dangerous for drivers with gardai urging motorists to slow down and use extreme care.

There was traffic chaos on the country's motorways yesterday as flooding forced officers to close part of the M50 in Dublin.

Gardai warned drivers to use extreme care as lane closures led to massive delays and tailbacks on many routes.

The overtaking lane on the M50 northbound was closed between the Red Cow and Lucan exits due to the severe flooding.

There was also flooding southbound between the N7 and N4 exits and more deluges were reported around Taylor's Hill near Rathfarnam.

But there should be better news for the coming days as Met Eireann said the worst of the weather is behind us.

A spokesman forecasted clear skies and sunshine for the rest of the week.

He said: "The outlook is for dry, settled weather for much of the coming week, with the west getting some sunshine.

"There will be good sunshine at times and it will become warmer as the week progresses, with temperatures reaching the mid 20s from midweek onwards."

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ALL HANDS TO THE PUMP: Water-logged M50 yesterday Pictures: COLLINS & MARK DOYLE; MAKING A SPLASH: Drivers battle rains