Electric Picnicers - lashing in Laois - Met Éireann forecast as gates open in Stradbally for the first campers

Electric Picnic fans should pack the rain gear as the rain has hit Laois just in time for the campsites at the event open in Stradbally.

Weekend camping ticket holders with early entry passes have access into the campsite from 2pm Thursday, for those wishing to set up camp early. As they'll be arriving in Stradbally, the ground will be wet for tent pitching as it's been raining overnight and through the morning in Laois, as was forecasted by Met Éireann.

Laois is likely to escape the worst of an unsettled weekend of weather caused by the remnants of Storm Erin to the west of Ireland. Met Éireann's forecast says it should be dry on Friday when a huge crowd will arrive in Laois to set up Electric Picnic camp in Stradbally.

Nevertheless, Met Éireann is forecasting an unsettled and windy weekend with showers and longer spells of rain. 

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— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) August 27, 2025

National Forecast issued at 9.12am on Thursday, August 28

Thursday:  Outbreaks of rain will continue to spread across the country from the west this morning, with prolonged spells in the north and west. These will ease in the early afternoon with sunny spells and scattered showers following. Showers will turn heavy and possibly thundery at times in the north and west, with the chance of spot flooding. Breezy with moderate to fresh, occasionally strong, southwesterly winds, becoming gusty at times along Atlantic coasts. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees, warmest in the southeast.

Scattered showers will continue Thursday night, turning heavy at times in the north and west. Elsewhere, clear spells will develop with lowest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees. Southwesterly winds will ease overnight, becoming mostly light, occasionally moderate.

Friday: A bright start for most tomorrow with scattered showers continuing to move in from the west. Showers will turn heavy at times in the north and west, but will ease towards the evening. Elsewhere, there'll be sunny spells, with the best of these in the east and southeast. Cloud will begin to build in the southwest later in the evening. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees in light to moderate westerly winds.

Friday night will be clear and dry for most with just isolated showers. Rain will move into southern and western counties overnight. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in moderate southerly breezes.

Saturday: A rather wet and windy start to Saturday as that band of rain continues to spread across the country. Heavy downpours are most likely in the south, west, and northwest with the possibility of spot flooding. Throughout the afternoon, scattered showers will develop as that rain clears with brighter spells developing by the evening. Highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds, gusty at times on Atlantic coasts.

Sunday: Sunny spells and scattered showers will move across the country throughout the day, turning heavy at times over parts of Ulster and Connacht. Highest temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees in moderate to fresh southwesterly winds, gusty at times near coasts.

Picnic people in 2022. Picture: Alf Harvey

Further outlook: While there is uncertainty in the exact detail, early next week is looking to remain unsettled with further spells of rain and showers. Monday and Tuesday will both see a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, the most frequent and heaviest of those showers staying to west Atlantic coasts. Daytime temperatures will be similar to late ranging in the mid to high teens.