Ireland on storm alert as weather warning issued for brutal 7-hour event

Irish Daily Mirror

19-05-2025

Parts of Ireland are set to be zapped by lightning over the coming hours while thunderstorms rumble. Met Eireann has issued an immediate thunderstorm warning, bringing with it a dramatic lightning display.
The Status Yellow alert, active from 1pm until 8pm, covers Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Laois and Offaly, where scattered thunderstorms, flashes of lightning and spot flooding are expected to disrupt the evening.
These counties may already be hearing distant rumbles as the storm system moves in. Despite the storm risk, these western areas are set to be the warmest in the country today, with temperatures soaring to 22C.
This spike in thunderstorm activity follows weeks of calm, mild weather. Experts say this mix of heat and moisture is creating perfect conditions for thunderstorms, which are typical for this time of year but can still catch people off guard.
After enjoying mini-heatwave conditions, Ireland's weather is set for a shift. Met Eireann has warned that while the week will start with heavy showers and thunderstorms, mostly dry and sunny spells will return by midweek. However, the calm won't last long, as more unsettled, changeable weather driven by Atlantic systems is expected this weekend.
The national forecaster explained: "High pressure is forecast to persist for much of the week, with below average rainfall and above average temperatures for this time of year. While there will be plenty of dry and sunny weather generally, there is the chance of some scattered showers on Monday and Tuesday. Current indications suggest a break in the settled weather towards the weekend.
"Next week, there is a signal for low pressure to become dominant, bringing unsettled weather. This would result in higher than normal rainfall and a decrease in temperatures compared to the previous week."
For those keen on tracking the approaching storms, Windy's live thunder tracker has been activated. It shows real-time updates on lightning activity and storm movements across Ireland. You can check your area below.
Thunder can be seen via lighting strikes on the map.
Here's a detailed day-by-day forecast from Met Eireann on what weather you can expect throughout the coming week: "A mix of cloudy periods and sunny spells Monday. Showers will develop across central and southern areas this afternoon and evening, some of them heavy with spot flooding and isolated thunderstorms. Highs of 16C in the east to 22C in the west, with light winds.
"Largely dry Tuesday with variable cloud and sunshine to begin, but showers will soon develop, some of them heavy with spot flooding and isolated thunderstorms possible. Cloud will gradually build from the southwest during the afternoon and patchy rain and drizzle will push into Munster during the evening. Highest temperatures of 16C to 20C in light southerly or variable breezes.
"Any residual cloud and patchy rain and drizzle in the south will soon clear on Wednesday morning to leave a dry and mostly sunny day with just the chance of a few showers bubbling up in southern counties. Highest temperatures of 18C to 22C generally, but cooler in north Ulster with highest temperatures of 14C to 16C there, due to the light to moderate north to northwest breezes, which will be fresh at times along northern and western coasts.
"Thursday will be another largely dry day with patchy cloud and sunny spells and just the odd light shower possible. Light to moderate northerly winds will bring a fresher feel to northern parts of Ulster and Connacht as well as near the Leinster coast with highest temperatures of just 14C to 16C , but maxima elsewhere will range 17C to 21C.
"For Friday, still some uncertainty for this lead-time but current indications suggest another mainly dry day in the east with sunny spells before cloud increases later. Mostly cloudy conditions in the west, however, with outbreaks of rain pushing in from the Atlantic later in the day. Highest temperatures 14C to 18C in light to moderate variable breezes.
"Mixed and changeable this weekend with spells of rain or showers but some brighter, sunnier spells too. Temperatures returning to near average in a southwest to west airflow."