Rain warnings issued as Storm Austen to hit Ireland

Updated / Tuesday, 20 Oct 2026 20:02

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A Status Yellow rain warning has been issued for Ireland on Thursday as the first named storm of the season hits.

Met Éireann said heavy rain associated with Storm Austen will spread eastwards across the country.

The forecaster said this may lead to difficult travelling conditions and localised flooding, and could impact outdoor events.

The warning will be in effect from 7pm on Thursday until 8am on Friday.

Met Éireann also said a Status Yellow rain warning will come into effect for Dublin and Wicklow tomorrow.

It said the spell of heavy rain could lead to travel disruption and localised flooding.

The warning will be in effect from 1am tomorrow until 8am.

Possibility of 'upgraded warnings' - Met Éireann

Ailís Hankinson, operational meteorologist with Met Éireann, said the centre of the storm will track to the south of Ireland, into southern England on Thursday night and into Friday morning.

"Rainfall will hit the southwest of Ireland first and will make its way across Ireland, based on the latest model that we have."

She said currently there is a nationwide Yellow rainfall warning for Thursday night and Friday morning, however it is possible that there may be updates to the warning over the coming days.

"It looks like the south of Ireland will feel the worst impacts and as a result, there may be upgraded warnings."

Ms Hankinson said that by 8am on Friday, people can expect rainfall associated with the storm to gradually clear, with blustery showers following for the remainder of the day.

Looking ahead to the long weekend, including Bank Holiday Monday, she said: "The weather is likely to stay unsettled, with further spells of wet and windy conditions across the country.

"Temperatures are expected to be average for this time of year, possibly in the low double digits."

Referring to rainfall tonight, she said there is an active weather front moving across Ireland tonight which will bring some heavy outbreaks of rain and as a result Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow rain warning for Dublin and Wicklow.

She added that Storm Austen was named by the UK Met Office as the UK will see the worst impacts of the storm in relation to winds.