Met Éireann has issued two Status Orange rain warnings covering six counties, as Storm Austen, the first named storm of the 2026/27 season, is set to hit Ireland on Thursday evening.
The forecaster has warned of disruption and delays to public transport, flooding, and very difficult travelling conditions as intense rain is expected.
The first Orange rain warning covers Cork, Kerry and Waterford, and will be in effect from 10pm on Thursday until 5am on Friday. A separate Orange rain warning covers Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow, and will run from 2am until 8am on Friday.
A Status Yellow wind and rain warning will also apply to all counties from 7pm on Thursday until 10am on Friday. Met Éireann has additionally issued a Status Orange marine storm warning from Wicklow Head to Dungarvan to Valentia, and for the Irish Sea south of Anglesey. North to northwest winds could reach storm force 10 at times. That warning runs from 9pm on Thursday until 7am on Friday.
Wednesday began wet and windy, with heavy rain in the east overnight. A separate Status Yellow rain warning was in place for Dublin and Wicklow between 1am and 8am on Wednesday. Sunny spells and heavy showers followed from the west, with highest temperatures of 9C to 13C and fresh to strong, gusty northwest winds.
Thursday is expected to start mostly dry with sunny spells and scattered showers. Then very heavy rain will develop in the southwest and spread northeast through the evening, with localised flooding possible in Munster and Leinster.
Storm Austen is forming in the Atlantic. Met Éireann meteorologist Ailís Hankinson said the centre of the storm will track to the south of Ireland, into southern England on Thursday night and Friday morning. Aoife Kealy, deputy head of forecasts at Met Éireann, 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.” For that reason, warnings could be updated as the track becomes clearer.
The storm was named by the UK Met Office, because the UK is expected to see the worst of the winds. The name Austen was one of seven submitted by Met Éireann for the 2026/27 season, which is shared with the UK Met Office and the Dutch meteorological service KNMI. It honours 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 mid-morning. There will then be a brief drier spell before conditions become very unsettled over the weekend. Saturday will start rather wet and windy with spells of heavy rain, turning more showery through the day.
Met Éireann also warned that a period of spring tides is approaching. Combined with windy conditions, this may lead to coastal flooding in exposed, low-lying areas. The forecaster advised people to stay away from coastal areas during this time and repeated the Irish Coast Guard’s advice: “Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry.” It added that as little as 150mm of fast-flowing water can knock a person off their feet, while 300mm can move most cars off the road.
The heavy rain could also affect outdoor events planned for Thursday evening and Friday. Drivers are advised to check conditions before setting out, allow extra time, and avoid driving through flooded roads. Commuters on rail and bus services should check for updates, as delays are possible. Further updates are expected from Met Éireann as the storm’s track becomes clearer.
