Electric Picnic weather latest as Met Éireann issue grim updated forecast
Met Éireann’s latest forecast predicts “a wet start for most” on Saturday with “widespread rain, drizzle and some mist” as Electric Picnic campers in Stradbally deal with inclement conditions
Met Éireann weather forecasters are predicting more rain for Laois on Saturday and Sunday as thousands deal with the adverse weather at Electric Picnic in Stradbally, Co Laois.
The weather closed in on Thursday with heavy bursts of rain as the first campers moved onto the site with stage times on the main stage delayed at times due to severe rain. Notices on screens around the venue warned people of the impact of the rain on show times while the Coca Cola stage was briefly evacuated on Friday due to rain and a resultant leak in the tent.
There have been scenes of flooding on the site close to tents with revellers waking up to pools of water in their camping areas. Despite that, spirits remain high with Gorillaz, CMAT and The Mary Wallopers due on the main stage on Saturday evening.
Met Éireann’s latest forecast predicts “a wet start for most” on Saturday with “widespread rain, drizzle and some mist.”
They add: “The rain will be very heavy and persistent at times with the chance of localised flooding. It will be a drier start further north though, with parts of Ulster staying dry for a time. While the rain will clear eastwards through the day, it may linger in parts of Leinster and Ulster towards evening. Following the clearance, there will be some sunny spells, mainly across Munster and Connacht, but also some showers. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees, with light to moderate north to northwest winds backing westerly.”
Saturday night should clear and as the main acts take the stage on Saturday evening, the weather looks like being dry. Met Éireann’s forecast for Saturday night says: “Starting off mostly dry with a mix of cloud and clear spells and just isolated showers. However, as the night progresses, scattered showers or more persistent spells of rain will spread from the southwest and some of these will be very heavy. Some mist and fog patches too. Lowest temperatures of 10 to 15 degrees, with mostly light southerly winds, freshening in the southwest towards morning.”
Again, Sunday morning will bring “widespread showers or more persistent spells of rain,” according to the latest forecast with Met Éireann adding, “these will be very heavy at times with thunderstorms and localised flooding possible. Some sunny spells will develop through the day. Highest temperatures of 16 to 21 degrees, with light to moderate, fresh at times, variable winds.”
Sunday night could also be breezy so campers will want to have their tents secure. Sunday evening will also bring “a mix of clear spells and scattered showers, lowest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees, with moderate to fresh, west to northwest winds.”
As the festival winds down and people leave the site on Monday, they may again encounter a mix of breezy and showery conditions. Met Éireann’s Monday forecast says: “Starting off breezy with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers. Cloud will thicken from the west through the afternoon and evening with outbreaks of rain and drizzle following. Highest temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees, coolest in the northwest, with a moderate to fresh westerly breeze.”