Latest news with #BritishMetOffice
Irish Post
3 hours ago
- Climate
- Irish Post
Ireland prepares for an official heatwave as Europe swelters
EUROPE is in the grip of a relentless summer heatwave, with Ireland on the brink of declaring its first official heatwave of the year, while vast regions of the continent battle raging wildfires, evacuations and deadly temperatures. In Northern Ireland, thermometers climbed to 25.2°C in County Fermanagh on Monday, kicking off what could become the region's third heatwave this year. According to the British Met Office, a heatwave is declared when temperatures reach 25°C or above for at least three consecutive days. This marks a sharp departure from the seasonal average maximum of 18°C for August. The Republic of Ireland is also facing high temperatures. Met Éireann forecasts temperatures approaching 30°C in parts of the Midlands. While no county has yet experienced the five consecutive days above 25°C required for an official heatwave declaration, forecasters believe that threshold is likely to be met this week. Coastal areas, though slightly cooler, are still expected to reach the low 20s. The rising heat has prompted health and safety warnings across Ireland. The Irish Pharmacy Union has urged the public to wear sunscreen to reduce the risk of skin cancer, which remains the most common form of cancer in the country. The Road Safety Authority is also warning drivers to stay alert, advising the use of sunglasses to combat sun glare, ensuring windscreen cleanliness, and staying hydrated while travelling. According to the RSA, summer is statistically the most dangerous time on Irish roads, as drivers may drop their guard during seemingly perfect driving conditions. The intensifying heat in Ireland comes as southern and central Europe face far more dangerous conditions. In Spain, nearly 6,000 people have been forced to evacuate their homes as wildfires rage through multiple regions. In the Madrid suburb of Tres Cantos, a man caught in a blaze died after suffering burns over 98% of his body, and high winds of over 70 km/h and dry storm conditions created what officials described as 'explosive' fire behaviour. In Tarifa, southern Spain, 2,000 more people fled their homes as firefighting aircraft and crews worked around the clock to contain blazes. The Spanish government has declared a pre-emergency phase to coordinate emergency resources, with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urging citizens to take the threat of wildfires seriously. Portugal is also battling several large fires. Morocco has sent firefighting aircraft to assist after two Portuguese planes malfunctioned. In Italy, where Florence is forecast to hit 40°C, a four-year-old boy died of heatstroke after being left in a car in Sardinia. The country has issued red alert warnings for seven major cities. In Albania, over 30,000 hectares have been scorched since July, with over 20 arrests linked to deliberate arson. Hundreds of firefighters and troops have brought most fires under control, but dozens still burn. In Montenegro, fire crews narrowly saved homes outside the capital, while in Croatia, firefighters battled to protect communities near Split overnight. Authorities continue to urge caution and preparedness as the summer heat shows no signs of easing. See More: Europe, Ireland Heatwave, Met Eireann, UK Met Office
RTÉ News
02-08-2025
- Climate
- RTÉ News
Storm Floris predicted to be exceptionally strong
A big storm, named Floris by the UK Met Office, is heading our way over the coming days. It is likely to bring unseasonably strong winds and heavy rain and cause considerable disruption, especially to the north west of the country and to Northern Ireland. The storm, which is predicted to be exceptionally strong, especially for this time of year, will arrive tomorrow night and be at its height by Monday morning. Met Éireann is warning that more people than usual are likely to be exposed and impacted due to a large number of outdoor events taking place, as well as people camping, holidaying and engaging in outdoor pursuits at this time of the year. There are fears too, that a storm of this magnitude could do huge damage to trees that are full of leaves at the height of the summer. And of course, damage to trees in Ireland inevitably means damage to electricity poles, power outages, and local disruption to the electricity supply network. Met Éireann is warning of dangerous driving conditions, fallen trees, debris and loose objects Met Éireann is highlighting other potential hazards too. It is warning of dangerous driving conditions, fallen trees, debris and loose objects, structural damage, wave overtopping, and localised flooding that will be made worse by leaves and debris. People will be at greater risk of exposure, says forecaster Forecaster Andrew Doran-Sherlock says as this is a Public Holiday Weekend more people will be at a greater risk of exposure than would normally be the case. He said: "While we are in a period of neap tides, with lowest tidal ranges of this cycle expected on Sunday and Monday, strong onshore winds and high waves may cause wave overtopping in low-lying coastal areas in the northwest and west." "Our advice would be to pay attention to the weather forecasts and warnings issued over the weekend and take them into consideration with any plans you have," he added. "And as always, please heed the advice of local authorities." Forecaster Andrew Doran-Sherlock urged people to heed the advice of local authorities There is still some uncertainty in the details so the full impact of the storm system cannot be determined. Nevertheless, on Friday, forecasters at the British Met Office were not ruling out the possibility that storm Floris could bring with it an unusual phenomenon that weather professionals refer to as "explosive cyclogenesis". In common (or tabloid) parlance that means Storm Floris could turn out to be a so-called "weather-bomb". This occurs when a storm brings a rapid drop in air pressure of 24 millibars, or more, in 24 hours. It is a rare phenomenon in an Irish context. But when it does happen wind speeds tend to become extremely intense. That is exactly what occurred during the devastating Storm Éowyn last January, the costliest storm in terms of damages to ever hit the country. Floris could qualify as a 'weather bomb' Meteorologists at the UK Met Office said yesterday that although it is difficult to be sure, it looks like air pressure will be about 1,005 hectopascals (or millibars) 24 hours before the storm, but will fall as low as 980 hectopascals and maybe even lower when it arrives. If that does happen then Floris would qualify as a "weather bomb" and the winds at the centre of the storm would be extremely strong. Of course, that does not mean this storm will be as damaging as Éowyn because the timing, the trajectory and the position of the coming storm when it is at its maximum will be different. Éowyn was a direct hit on the coast of Ireland while Floris is currently expected to track to the north west of the country, so its impact is unlikely to be as fierce. Storm Éowyn was a direct hit on the coast of Ireland (Photo:RollingNews) Nevertheless, it would be truly remarkable if two storms characterised by "explosive cyclogenesis" impacted Ireland in a period of less than seven months. The meteorologists at the UK Met Office are saying this cannot be ruled out so it is well worth watching out for. One can expect to hear a lot of discussion about the fingerprints of climate change if that does turn out to be the case. As things stand right now the UK Met Office is predicting potentially record gusts for this time of the year, of up to 100 kilometres per hour or more in the Northwest of Ireland, and Northern Ireland, early on Monday. There is no question that will come as a shock to many holiday makers. It's a big nuisance for farmers and crop growers too. Five years ago this month, when Storm Francis hit, some of Ireland's apple growers lost as much as 30% of their crops due to wind damage. Rivers burst their banks, with people needing to be rescued from up to 300 homes in Newcastle Co Down. This month two years ago Storm Betty caused flooding, fallen trees, branches, and debris across the south of the country, with electricity outages affecting 70,000 homes, farms, and businesses. The stories were similar and the experiences equally challenging during, Antoni, Lillian, Ellen, and Evert - the four other August named storms during the eleven years since the convention of naming storms was adopted here. On that basis we can expect lots of reminders, and very good advice about taking care, avoiding hazards, and driving carefully over the coming days. The good news on the weather front is that the UK meteorologists are expecting that after the storm weather will settle down quickly and we should be back to calm and warm conditions by Wednesday with high pressure ruling the roost.
Irish Post
24-06-2025
- Climate
- Irish Post
Public asked to name Irish and British storms of 2025/26
THE British Met Office and Ireland's Met Éireann are inviting the public to help name the storms expected to affect Britain, Ireland and the Netherlands in 2025/26. This marks the 11th year of the joint storm-naming initiative, which was created to make severe weather warnings clearer and more memorable to the public. After Storm Éowyn hit at the start of the year, a Met Office survey revealed that 99% of people in red warning areas were aware of the alerts. Now, the public is being asked to submit names for the upcoming season. On its official website the Met Office asks: 'Is your grandma a force of nature? Does your best friend cause an impact wherever they go? Now you can give them the recognition they deserve, by naming a storm after them.' Submissions to Met Éireann must be made by 1 July, while the British Met Office will accept entries until 3 July. It's been advised that names should be appropriate and inclusive and reflect the cultural diversity of Britain, Ireland and the Netherlands. In line with international storm naming conventions, names starting with the letters Q, U, X, Y or Z will not be accepted. Chief meteorologist Will Lang from the Met Office highlighted how memorable names like Eunice, Franklin, and Bert have helped the public better understand and prepare for severe weather: 'Now we need the public's help to create this year's list,' he said. So far, five storms have been named in the 2024/25 season. The official list of storm names for 2025/26 is set to be unveiled on 1 September. See More: Met Eireann, Storms, UK Met Office, Will Lang
Irish Daily Mirror
05-06-2025
- Climate
- Irish Daily Mirror
Weather warning from Ireland saved 10,000 D-Day lives
The Allies landed 160,000 soldiers on five beaches in Normandy on this day, 81 years ago. It's known as D-Day and was the largest land, sea and air invasion in military history and a pivotal moment in World War II, on June 6, 1944. Allied forces - American and Canadian - landed in the Nazi-occupied France gaining a foothold and pushing inland. But one of D-Day's biggest secrets for years was that the landings had been delayed 24 hours as Ireland - officially neutral - had passed on a crucial storm warning from Blacksod Bay lighthouse, on the Co Mayo coast. The readings of one young woman, a Kerry-born postmistress Maureen Flavin Sweeney, averted potential disaster and saved countless thousands of lives. Her unexpected weather recordings from Blacksod Bay lighthouse, routinely transmitted to Dublin changed the course of history. This part of story begins on the morning of June 3 at 1am, coincidentally the morning of Flavin Sweeney's 21st birthday. At that point, the Blacksod barometer was showing a slight drop in air pressure, which - combined with a 7m/ph south-westerly and slight drizzle was indication of an approaching storm. It was a routine post or so she thought... However, a little later, she received an unusual phone call. It was the Irish Meteorological Office in Dublin, asking her to check again. Confirming her first reading was right, Dublin then asked for further reports on the hour to 7am. These following weather reports would show a continuing drop in pressure and the wind shifting to storm force 6, the wind having got up to 25-31m/ph. This was data being simultaneously - and secretly - fed to the Allies preparing for a June 5 Normandy invasion. It set off near-panic as specific weather conditions were needed for the landing, codenamed Operation Overlord. It was such vital information that at 11am that morning, the British Met Office threw protocol aside and phoned the Blacksod Bay telephone number directly. To establish the messages hadn't been tampered with on route, they asked: "Were those Blacksod readings correct? And could Maureen check one last time?" Operation Overlord required specific conditions in place shortly before dawn, good weather, no cloud cover, a full moon and a rising tide. When planning began in 1943, it was deemed there were just four possible windows in 1944, but June 5-7 was the only really suitable one. If the summer opportunity had been missed, focus would have turned to landings in the south of France in the Autumn which may have stretched the war to 1946. The data suggesting there would be a storm on June 5 and a respite on June 6 was relayed to General Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Forces (SHAEF) who postponed D-Day to June 6. The day's delay saw the Allies land successfully on all five beaches. Mary Flavin Sweeney's readings saved an estimated 10,000 June 6 D-Day lives. President John F. Kennedy, on the way to his inauguration in 1961, asked Eisenhower what had given the Allies the edge on D-Day and was told: "Because we had better meteorologists than the Germans." Yet for the 21 year-old postmistress, there would be very little recognition in the immediate post-WWII years and she was only told of her role by British authorities in 1956. The world learned further details in 2004, while the full extent of Flavin Sweeney's part was not released by the British War Office until 2012. Latterly, the USA awarded her the Congressional Medal of Honour in 2021, their highest award available to civilians. The secrecy at the time surrounding the weather reports from Blacksod Bay was understandable. Ireland, officially neutral in the Second World War, was nonetheless pursuing a policy of mild cooperation with the Allies. This, for instance, allowed stranded Allied airmen and naval personnel return via Northern Ireland while, at the same time, similar Axis personnel were interned. Ireland also consented to Allied weather/air sea-rescue aircraft based at RAF Castle Archdale on Lough Erne - Catalina and Sunderland flying boats which doubled as reconnaissance aircraft - avail of a four-mile 'fly zone' between Beleek and Ballyshannon to access the Atlantic. More famously, and following a massive Luftwaffe bombing raid on Belfast in the early hours of April 16 1941, Taoiseach Eamon De Valera had dispatched 13 units of the Dundalk, Drogheda, Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Fire Brigades to Belfast. He further sent the Great Northern Railway to Belfast to evacuate some 3,000 people to Dublin. If the Donegal Corridor narrowly avoided being an act of war, gaining tacit German approval as flights were meant to be restricted to just air/sea rescue, the sending of uniformed men across the border to firefight and supply aid was, unambiguously, an Act of War. Just as was the clandestine sharing of weather information. The Irish Meteorological Office in Dublin's passing data on from their 10 stations to the British Met Service - run by the British Ministry of Defence until as recently as 2011 - was in clear contravention of Irish neutrality. D-Day is now celebrated as a spectacular triumph. However General Eisenhower, who had been working 20 hours a day, smoking four packs of unfiltered Camels each day, was not even so sure of its success. Late into the night of June 5, he reached for a notepad and pencil and drafted a statement, headed by the words 'In Case of Failure'. Now housed in the Eisenhower Museum in Abilene, Kansas, it read: "Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available." That information had come directly from Mary Flavin Sweeney, a young Irish woman based in one of the most western points in Europe - Blacksod Bay.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
A Giant Mouth Has Opened on The Sun And Even It Looks Surprised
A giant mouth-like hole in the Sun about as wide as five Jupiters is blasting hot Sun breath in Earth's general direction. It's not an actual hole in the Sun, but what is known as a coronal hole: a region where the Sun's magnetic field opens up, allowing the wind of solar particles constantly blowing from our Sun to escape more readily, sending a gust of material blasting through the Solar System. If you look at the Sun in optical wavelengths (we don't recommend doing this without special equipment), you won't notice anything; but, because these regions are cooler and less dense than the surrounding plasma, if you look at them in ultraviolet light, they appear as large, void-like patches of darkness. Currently, the configuration of coronal holes on the face of the Sun is, well, exactly like that: a screaming face with a wide, mouth-like gash on the southern hemisphere, and two eye-like spots on the north. Of course, they are much more impressive than normal eyes. Each of those northern 'dots' is around the size of Jupiter alone. And all three regions are blasting the Solar System with particles and plasma. This is nothing to worry about, even though the Sun seems to have its own feelings on the matter. Coronal holes are normal. The powerful wind they expel can generate geomagnetic storms when the particles collide with Earth's magnetosphere, but they tend to be on the milder side – nowhere near the level of storm we experience from the full frontal blast of a coronal mass ejection. That's a powerful eruption of particles powered by magnetic reconnection in regions where the solar magnetic field is more powerful than its surrounds. But the Sun's coronal hole antics may not even produce a small geomagnetic storm this time. "The next possible fast wind enhancement is from the coronal hole in the south disk," the British Met Office advises. "However this is low confidence and likely to be only a weak interaction due to its southern location, perhaps bringing a further period of elevated winds." Not to worry, though. The Sun is currently going haywire with flare and coronal mass ejection activity – our planet was just wracked by a powerful G4 geomagnetic storm that saw the auroras borealis and australis bathe our skies in a panoply of colors at latitudes that rarely get the experience. Since the Sun is currently emerging from the most active phase of a particularly active cycle, we expect more surprises. We just hope maybe it can try to look a bit less worried next time. A Super-Tiny Star Gave Birth to a Giant Planet And We Don't Know How Water Discovered Around a Young, Sun-Like Star For First Time June's Full Moon Will Be The Lowest in The Sky For Decades. Here's Why.
