Met Éireann signals double trouble as snowy Storm Éowyn officially declared

Met Éireann has put Ireland on notice for a damaging weekend of stormy weather with Storm Éowyn one of possibly two wintry storms that could hit by Sunday.

Met Office in the UK, Met Éireann's official storm forecasting partner, officially gave storm status to the weather front that will hit Ireland and Britain on Friday and Saturday.

Storm Éowynn will bring storm-force winds, heavy rain in cold conditions which carries the risk of snow for parts.

Met Éireann, which had already issued a Weather Advisory for bad weather, is also putting people on notice of the potential for Storm Éowyn to be followed quickly by a second spell of stormy weather on Sunday.

Liz Coleman is the Deputy Head of Forecasting with Met Éireann. She spoke first about what Storm Éowyn will bring.

“Storm Éowyn will bring wet and very windy conditions on Friday, especially in the west and northwest. The very strong southwest winds with damaging gusts will start to be felt late on Thursday and will cause dangerous travelling conditions on Friday, with the likliehood of trees down and potentially power outages. Wave overtopping is also expected at high tide. There could be localised flooding further into Saturday associated to the heavy rain and to the snow melt. MORE BELOW VIDEO.

#StormÉowyn has been named and is forecast to bring strong winds to much of the UK on Friday and into Saturday.

Stay #WeatherAware ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/XCphCgyj2Z

— Met Office (@metoffice) January 21, 2025

"Western and northwestern counties are likely to see Status Orange wind warnings as a minimum, but we are monitoring the situation closely and will issue warnings as Met Éireann’s high resolution model, which provides information two days ahead, comes into play. We are in close contact with the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) and emergency management stakeholders and will provide timely updates as the situation progresses," she said.

The forecaster also warned that Storm Éowyn will not be the end of the bad weather over the weekend.

"There will be a short respite from the weather on Saturday as Éowyn moves away, but we are also watching a different low-pressure system, forecast to bring impactful winds and further rain on Sunday. However, in this case the situation is still too uncertain; we will provide updates as the week progresses,” she said in a commentary on the storm.

The bad outlook for Sunday is shared by the forecasters which named Storm Éowyn.

"Later Sunday, another area of low pressure could bring further wet and very windy weather across the UK," said the Met Office in its Storm Éowyn warning.

In advance notice of what's to come Met Éireann's partners said warned that 250 km jet stream winds would drive a deepening low-pressure system over Ireland and Britain.

"A powerful Jet Stream will develop above the North Atlantic this week, with perhaps the strongest winds of the winter so far," it said.

Met Éireann says the main impacts will start to be felt overnight on Thursday and through Friday, with some potentially lasting longer:

• Dangerous travelling conditions
• Displaced objects
• Fallen trees
• Power outages
• Poor visibility in any sleet or snow
• Surface water flooding, as the ground is saturated countrywide
• Localised river flooding, in view of the rainfall totals expected over the weekend
• High seas: wave overtopping at high tide due to strong on-shore winds.

 Met Éireann national Forecast issued at 12.12pm on Tuesday, January 21.

Tuesday: Any lingering mist and fog will clear to leave a dry day for many with a mix of cloud and sunny spells and just well scattered showers, mainly affecting northwest areas. Cool with highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in a light southwest or variable breeze.

The night will generally dry and calm with just isolated showers. Cold however with areas of mist and fog - some dense pockets possible. Frost and icy patches developing too, where skies remain clear. Lowest temperatures of -2 to 2 degrees.

Wednesday: Overnight mist and fog will clear Wednesday morning, possibly lingering though across eastern and northern areas for a time though. Most areas will be dry with sunny spells and just well scattered showers. Cool with highest temperatures of 4 to 9 degrees in just light west southwest winds.

Dry for most at first with clear spells and well scattered showers. Cloud will build from the west overnight with showery outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards. Becoming breezier with winds increasing moderate southwesterly. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees.

Thursday: Wet on Thursday morning with rain becoming widespread. The rain will clear to scattered showers and sunny spells in the afternoon, with the chance of hail. The showers will become isolated through the evening with cloud building from the southwest. Blustery in moderate to fresh westerly winds and highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees.

Current indications suggest conditions will turn wet and windy Thursday night. Southerly winds will become very strong and gusty as rain spreads from the southwest becoming widespread overnight. The rain, heavy at first, will possibly turn to sleet or snow locally. Cold initially with lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees but temperatures turning very mild from the south through the night.

Friday: There is some uncertainty in the forecast for Friday but it is expected to be a very windy day with near gale force westerly winds developing, potentially reaching gale force in places. The rain will clear to sunshine and showers through the day, some of which may turn wintry. Highest afternoon temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees.

Further wintry showers are possible Friday night, mainly over the north and west. Drier and clearer conditions further east. Southwest winds will ease moderate to fresh overnight with lowest temperatures of degrees 0 to 3 degrees.

Weekend: Remaining very unsettled at the weekend with strong winds and the potential for further heavy rainfall.