MET Eireann has warned of heavy showers, localised flooding, thunderstorms and heavy winds hitting Ireland in just a few days.
And a forecaster has confirmed that the Atlantic is dominating our weather again, looking set to bring wind conditions that Met Eireann could name as a storm this weekend.
The heaviest of the winds look set to batter down early on Sunday morning[/caption]
The weather looks set to come about as a result of an active jet stream that will lead to a development of deep low pressure systems passing between Iceland and Ireland.
Cathal Nolan from Ireland’s Weather Channel warned that the powerful weather is “likely” to cause local disruption to power and transport services.
But he confirmed that the disruption will not reach the massive scale of chaos that was caused by Storm Eowyn last month.
The conditions set to hit Ireland in the coming days will arrive in two separate bouts, but only one of them looks likely to be a named weather event.
Nolan explained: “Refining our forecast update from yesterday we can now say that there will be two very windy episodes this week, each bringing with them strong to Gale Force winds, with a risk of Storm Force winds on Sunday in particular for parts of the west and northwest of the country, though all areas will experience some strong winds as a consequence.”
The weather boffin confirmed that the first windy episode looks set to be on Thursday night into Friday, when a “deepening secondary low” with its associated weather fronts passes over Ireland.
He added that southerly winds will bring “some locally strong gusts to coastal areas of the west, south and east of the country with some disruption to services possible”, and said the strongest winds look set to batter over the country at speeds of 100kph.
Nolan confirmed that the second windy episode will hit Ireland late on Saturday night and remain into Sunday morning when an “Atlantic storm passes close by” the northwest coast of Ireland.
He explained: “This storm depression will bring wind speeds widely across the west and northwest of the country up to 100kph with localised gusts approaching 120kph likely in exposed locations from Ceann Mhása to Mizen Head and on to Fair Head.”
Nolan said that some local disruption to power and transport services “seems likely” as a result of the winds, adding: “It is possible that Sunday’s storm could become a named storm.”
Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather also confirmed that strong winds look set to make an impact this weekend.
He said: “Plenty of wind coming Thursday and Friday with strongest winds Sunday. Also spells of heavy rain Thursday, Friday and Sunday mornings.”
Currently, Saturday looks set to be the day sunny spells will make a return.
Met Eireann earlier revealed that the Dublin Airport weather monitoring station recorded zero hours of sunshine in the last week.
However, the weather boffins confirmed that the coming Saturday will be a “day of sunny spells and scattered showers”.
FULL LIST OF STORM NAMES 2024/25
THE Irish meteorological service, along with the national weather services of the UK and the Netherlands, each contributed seven names to list of storm names for this season.
The new storms list runs from early September until late August the following year, coinciding with the beginning of autumn.
The system of naming storms was first launched in 2015 so that the communication of severe weather is easier.
And Met Eireann’s contributions were taken from a list of more than 500 suggestions by primary school children participating in ESB Science Blast last February.
Ireland contributed the names Conall, Darragh, Hugo, Izzy, Naoise, Poppy and Vivienne.
Letters Q, U, X, Y, Z are not included, which is in line with the US National Hurricane Centre naming convention.
The full list for 2024/25 is:
- Ashley
- Bert
- Conall
- Darragh
- Eowyn
- Floris
- Gerben
- Hugo
- Izzy
- James
- Kayleigh
- Lewis
- Mavis
- Naoise
- Otje
- Poppy
- Rafi
- Sayuri
- Tilly
- Vivienne
- Wren
The Atlantic areas will mainly be impacted at first but conditions will extend eastwards through the morning and afternoon.
Cloud will build from the southwest later and Met Eireann confirmed that temperatures will reach their highest between 8C to 12C.
But the weather boffins warned that wet and “rather windy” conditions will move in from the west overnight.
Looking towards Sunday, the national forecaster said current indications suggest it will be a mild but rather windy day.
Met Eireann said: “Rain in the morning, heavy at times, will clear eastwards with sunny spells and scattered showers following.
“Highest temperatures of 11C to 14C in strong to near gale force and gusty south to southwest winds.”
Temperatures look set to be slightly milder this week[/caption]
