Ireland weather: Sudden storm threat forces urgent Met Eireann warning for 3 hours of chaos

Met Eireann has issued a last minute weather warning as thunderstorms ravage two counties.

Traffic driving through heavy rain on a motorway in January 2024 (file photo)(Image: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

Parts of Ireland are set to be zapped by lightning while thunderstorms rumble. Met Eireann has issued a last minute weather warning for three hours of chaos in two counties.

In a stark update this morning, the national forecaster said: “A band of rain will move in from the west early on and gradually clear eastwards through the evening, turning heavy at times and possibly thundery. Tonight, scattered showers will feed in from the Atlantic and track eastwards through the night. Some of the showers will be heavy with a chance of hail.”

A Status Yellow thunderstorm, issued at 8.53am, is in effect immediately and remains in place until noon for Galway and Kerry.

These counties may already be hearing distant rumbles as the storm front sweeps in from the Atlantic, bringing sudden thundery downpours.

The alert advises: “Thunderstorms moving eastwards will bring heavy downpours at times with the slight chance of hail. Potential impacts include localised spot flooding and difficult travelling conditions”.

The thunderstorms come amid a major shift in Ireland’s weather ahead of Christmas. While unsettled conditions are expected for the remainder of this week, Met Eireann says more settled, drier and cooler weather is likely to arrive next week.

The national forecaster explained: “The mobile Atlantic regime will continue to bring unsettled and mixed conditions for the remainder of this week, with further spells of rain, showers, and sunny spells all forecast. However, current indications are that a shift to a more easterly airflow will introduce more settled and drier, but cooler, conditions as we move into next week and towards Christmas.”

Friday and Saturday will see blustery conditions with scattered showers and occasional sunny spells. Saturday night will turn much cooler, with temperatures dropping as low as -1C and frost possible.

Showers and hail may continue into Sunday and Monday, however Met Eireann has admitted “uncertainty”.

It said: “The detail becomes more uncertain as we move into Sunday, but current indications are that it will be a cooler day with showers, possibly of hail, and more persistent outbreaks of rain moving in from the southeast. Highest daytime temperatures of 3C to 8C, with a light northerly or easterly breeze.

“The detail continues uncertain on Monday but further spells of rain and showers are expected. Highest temperatures of 5C to 9C, with a light easterly breeze.”While the detail continues uncertain later into next week, current indications are for overall drier and more settled conditions to develop.”

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