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Storm Austen has been named by the UK Met Office and will bring a nationwide yellow rain warning to Ireland as the Bank Holiday weekend begins. Weather services say a band of heavy rain will sweep across the country, with the south also facing the risk of stronger winds.
Warnings and likely impacts
Met Éireann has issued a yellow rain warning covering the entire country. The alert is scheduled to run from 7pm on Thursday until 8am on Friday, and forecasters warn of difficult travel, localized flooding and disruption to outdoor events where heavy falls occur.
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The UK Met Office has separately placed parts of southwest Britain under a yellow warning for wind and rain on Friday. That agency has highlighted possible travel disruption, power outages and the danger of injuries from falling debris.
How the week shapes up
Conditions will change through the week as rain pushes in from the southwest and tracks northeastwards. Temperatures remain cool for the time of year, and the strongest winds are expected along southern and western coasts.
- Tuesday: Starts mainly dry with some sunny spells. Rain will develop in the southwest and spread across Munster, Connacht and the midlands in the afternoon. Highs of 10–15°C; much of Ulster and Leinster should stay drier.
- Tuesday night: Rain continues to push northeast, heavy at times before becoming focused on Leinster and Ulster by morning. Lows around 5–9°C.
- Wednesday: Wet for Leinster and Ulster early, clearing slowly to the northeast. Elsewhere expect sunshine and scattered showers. Breezy with highs near 9–12°C.
- Wednesday night: Showers linger in Munster, south Leinster and along the west coast. Turning cold and mostly dry overnight, with lows of 2–7°C.
- Thursday: Mostly dry in the morning, but heavy rain related to Storm Austen will develop in the southwest and spread across all areas through the afternoon and evening. Localised flooding is possible, particularly in Munster and Leinster. Highs of 10–13°C.
- Thursday night (warning period): Wet with some heavy falls, clearing eastwards overnight. Winds will back and become strong and gusty in places. Temperatures about 5–8°C.
- Friday: Blustery with sunshine and showers during the day; highs around 9–11°C. Rain is expected to move in from the west again on Friday night, with lows of 3–8°C.
- Saturday: Starts wet as rain reaches all areas, then clears eastwards with showers following. Winds will strengthen, becoming very windy with strong westerly gusts later in the day.
Practical advice
Forecasters advise travellers and organisers of outdoor events to monitor updates from Met Éireann and the UK Met Office. The greatest immediate concern is heavy rain leading to localized flooding and difficult driving conditions during the warning period.
At the time of reporting no formal nationwide wind warning has been issued, but those in southern counties should be prepared for gustier conditions as the system passes.
