Storm Austen approaches as Met Éireann issues orange warnings for six counties

Met Éireann has issued a number of status orange weather warnings for intense rain associated with Storm Austen.

The orange warnings follow a nationwide status yellow rain warning previously issued and indicate the deteriorating nature of the coming weather conditions.

The storm is due to hit Ireland on Thursday. Counties Waterford, Cork and Kerry have an orange warning in place from 10am on Thursday until 5am on Friday.

People have been warned of disruption to public transport, flooding and “very difficult travel conditions”.

The same orange warning will be in place for counties Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow from 2am on Friday until 8am.

There was heavy rain in the east of the country overnight as Ireland prepares for the arrival of Storm Austen.

Coastal communities will experience strong winds in advance of the storm’s arrival.

Wednesday will have a wet and windy start, according to Met Éireann, with warnings of “cyclonic variable winds” in coastal areas.

A small craft warning for all coasts of Ireland came into effect at 4pm on Tuesday and will remain in place until 4pm on Wednesday.

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Meanwhile, a status yellow marine gale warning has been issued from Belfast Lough to Carlingford Lough to Carnsore Point. This came into effect at 4am on Wednesday and remains in place until 12pm.

Northwest winds will reach gale force eight at times, Met Éireann said.

A separate marine gale warning has been issued from Rossan Point to Belfast Lough to Carnsore Point. This warning came into effect at 6am on Wednesday and will be in place until 4pm.

Another small craft warning from Carnsore Point to Roche’s Point to Slyne Head will come into effect at 4pm and remain in place until 1am on Thursday.

West to southwest winds will reach force six or higher at times. There will be spells of sunshine with scattered showers on a “blustery day”.

Thursday will start out dry with sunny spells and scattered showers before a nationwide status yellow rain warning comes into effect at 7pm, lasting until 8am on Friday.

Thursday night will be very wet, windy and stormy, according to the national forecaster.

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Widespread heavy and persistent rain will affect much of the country, with some flooding expected across southern and eastern counties.

Isolated thunderstorms will occur too. “Cyclonic variable winds” will veer northwest and further strengthen overnight, reaching gale force in places. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees are forecast.

Storm Austen is the first named storm of the 2026/2027 season.

Aoife Kealy, deputy head of forecasts at Met Éireann, said Storm Austen would develop in the Atlantic Ocean.

“It’s getting help basically from a strong jet stream. So it’s deepening as it approaches western Europe and the UK,” she said.

“As it passes to the south of us, it’s going to bring that strong or heavy rain and potentially some strong winds.”

She said the strongest would be felt in the UK. Warnings could potentially be updated on Wednesday or Thursday as the track of the storm becomes clearer.

Kealy said “even small differences in exactly how the low pressure will track are going to make a big difference to where the worst of the weather is on Thursday night and Friday”.

“It’s hard to pinpoint any one area just at the moment” where conditions may be worse, she said.

“There’s potential for heavy rain right across the country and potential for strong winds as well. The winds look likely to be in the south, the strongest of the winds, closest to the low [pressure].

“But we could see those strong winds everywhere and, as I said, we’re generally going to see a very wet night and even a wet start to Friday.”

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She advised people to stay up to date with the latest information from Met Éireann.

The name Austen was chosen by Met Éireann in tribute to Austen H Nagle, who became the first director of the Irish Meteorological Service when he was appointed in 1936.

On Friday, lingering wet and windy weather will clear eastern counties by around midmorning.

Sunshine and well-scattered blustery showers elsewhere will follow for the rest of the day, mainly affecting western counties.