Met Éireann has issued a Storm Austen warning for the whole country.3 Flooding and gale force winds are forecast across Ireland on Thursday night.3 Met Éireann is the Irish Meteorological Service.4
Storm Austen Warning Windows
Met Éireann has issued a raft of Status Orange and Status Yellow alerts, warning of localised flooding and disruption from the storm.2
- Whole country, yellow rain warning: from Thursday at 7pm until Friday at 8am.5
- Whole country, Status Yellow wind and rain: from 7pm until 10am the following day.1
- Cork, Kerry and Waterford, Status Orange rain: from 10pm Thursday until 5am Friday.6
- Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow, Status Orange rain: from 2am to 8am on Friday.2
Counties along the coast in the west and southwest are expected to be hit hardest, according to early indications.5 Reported end times for the Yellow warnings differ, with 8am on Friday in one report5 and 10am in another.1
Expected Impacts
Met Éireann said there could be disruption and delays to public transport, flooding and very difficult travelling conditions as intense rain is forecast.1
Storm Austen Track and Timing
Storm Austen is the first named storm of the season.6 It is forecast to track past Ireland's south coast from Thursday evening to Friday morning, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to many areas.2
Widespread rain and powerful gusts are forecast across the country.6
Met Éireann meteorologist Mark Bowe said Storm Austen is heading towards the southern part of the United Kingdom with strong winds and very heavy rain, before sweeping across the southern part of Ireland.1
What to Watch Next
Met Éireann says heavy rain associated with Storm Austen is set to spread eastwards across the country.4
The Storm Austen warning covers the whole country, so areas outside the Orange counties are under an alert as well.3
To follow conditions where you are, check the forecast for your city as the storm moves through.