Met Éireann puts Ireland on alert for what could be Storm Éowyn

Met Éireann has issued an official Weather Advisory for Laois and the rest of Ireland for weather that could turn into the next winter storm.

Met Éireann says it issues Weather Advisories are issued up to about a week ahead to provide early information on the potential for hazardous weather. 

The Advisory issued on Monday, January 20 says a deepening Low-Pressure system is forecast to track close to Ireland on Thursday night and during Friday. 

"Very strong winds are likely across the country with the potential for damaging wind gusts and disruption in places. High seas and spells of heavy rain are expected also," says the advisory.

Met Éireann's official storm forecasting partner in the UK is the Met Office.  The UK's National Weather Services has already issued two Status Yellow wind warnings for Northern Ireland and Scotland. It says a powerful Jet Stream will develop above the North Atlantic this week, with perhaps the strongest winds of the winter so far. This means a return to wet and windy conditions in the UK by Friday with some disruptive weather likely.

Met Éireann, the Met Office and their counterparts in the Netherlands (KNMI) jointly name storms. Storm Éowyn is the next official storm on list of storms for the 2024/25 winter season.

The national outlook overview from Met Éireann is that the weather turn colder from Tuesday night with scattered showers. It says more unsettled conditions will develop on Thursday, with very strong winds and heavy rain possible on Friday and at the weekend. MORE BELOW x POSTS.

Weather Advisory for Ireland️️

Keep up to date with https://t.co/e0QpncNS7O and our App for any warning updates. pic.twitter.com/upmLshJUFy

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 20, 2025

➡️Weather for the week ahead⬅️

Mostly cloudy through to midweek with only light falls of rain☁️

Turning colder from Tuesday night, with more unsettled weather developing Thursday onwards

Advisory issued➡️https://t.co/w5QtJ1V6un pic.twitter.com/MaaCUem4Qz

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 20, 2025

A powerful Jet Stream will develop above the North Atlantic this week, with perhaps the strongest winds of the winter so far ️

This means a return to wet and windy conditions in the UK by Friday with some disruptive weather likely. Keep up to date with the forecast. pic.twitter.com/DCPvsRBboT

— Met Office (@metoffice) January 19, 2025

Met Éireann says Advisories may also be employed when a sum of weather elements acting together create a significant hazard such as winds which may not be up to warnings strength but which, when combined with high tides and significant swell, generate a risk of flooding.

National Forecast from Met Éireann on at 3.58pm on Monday, January 20.

Monday night: Mist and fog developing in many places tonight, turning dense in some areas leading to impaired visibility and hazardous travelling conditions. Mostly cloudy in the south and east with patchy rain and drizzle, clear spells and a few showers elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees in a light southerly or variable breeze.

Tuesday: Mist and fog will be slow to clear on Tuesday morning. A dry day for many with sunny spells and scattered showers. Cloudier at first in the south and east with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, though it will brighten up there in the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in a light southwest or variable breeze.

Plenty of dry weather overnight with clear spells and scattered showers, most frequent in the west and north. Areas of mist and fog will develop once again, with some dense pockets possible in a light southerly or variable breeze. Some frost patches developing too with lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees.

Wednesday: A brighter day with mist and fog slowly clearing to leave sunny spells and scattered showers. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in light to moderate northwesterly winds.

Dry for most at first overnight with clear spells and well scattered showers. Cloud will build from the west overnight with showery outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards. Becoming breezier with winds increasing moderate to fresh southerly. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 4 degrees.

Thursday: Wet on Thursday morning with widespread rain. The rain will clear to scattered showers and sunny spells in the afternoon, with the chance of hail. Blustery in moderate to fresh westerly winds and highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees.

Friday: There is some uncertainty in the forecast for Friday but current indications suggest that it will be a very windy day with near gale force southwesterly winds developing, potentially reaching gale force in places. Heavy rain at first, possibly turning to sleet or snow locally. The rain will clear to sunshine and showers through the day. Afternoon highs of 7 to 11 degrees.

Next weekend: Remaining very unsettled at the weekend with strong winds and the potential for further heavy rainfall.

Met Éireann asks the public to lease check the met.ie website and app for updates to forecasts and warnings in the coming days.

The weather advisor is valid to 00:00 Saturday, January 25.