Quick Read
- Ireland faces new rainfall warnings and an “ice issue” later this week.
- Met Éireann forecasts a tentative shift to drier, warmer weather by late February.
- Minister Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran is meeting residents affected by ongoing flooding.
- Road closures and clean-up operations continue in flood-hit areas.
- January 2026 was the wettest January in Ireland since 2018.
DUBLIN (Azat TV) – Ireland is facing a renewed threat of heavy rainfall and potential new weather warnings, including an “ice issue” later this week, even as the country grapples with ongoing flood recovery efforts. This comes as Met Éireann offers a glimmer of hope, tentatively forecasting a long-awaited shift to drier and warmer conditions by late February and early March, following weeks of incessant downpours that made January the wettest since 2018.
The current forecast indicates a challenging week ahead for many parts of Ireland. Met Éireann’s outlook for Sunday, February 8, predicts scattered showers moving northwards, with heavier rain particularly impacting Munster and South Leinster overnight and into Monday. Meteorologist Cathal Nolan of Ireland’s Weather Channel specifically warned of the “possibility of some rainfall warnings” on Tuesday due due to heavier rain. The latter half of the week is expected to turn “much colder,” according to Nolan, with an “ice issue” developing from Friday. Fellow weather expert Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather Channel echoed this, noting a chance of “nice fresh crisp sunny weather for Friday and Saturday” but cautioning that it “will cause issues with icy surfaces.”
New Warnings and Immediate Weather Challenges
These immediate concerns follow a period where 18 counties were under rainfall alerts last week, and Status Orange warnings were in place for Dublin, Wicklow, Waterford, and Louth just days ago, after events like Storm Chandra. The continuous adverse weather has left many areas vulnerable, with clean-up operations still underway. The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) met on Saturday to assess the situation, emphasizing the need for public vigilance.
Met Éireann Forecasts a Shift to Drier Conditions
Despite the immediate challenges, Met Éireann’s extended outlook, updated on Friday, suggests a “dramatic U-turn” in weather patterns is on the horizon. The national forecaster points to “tentative signs that High Pressure will have a greater influence over Ireland’s weather bringing more settled conditions” during the week of Monday, February 23, to Sunday, March 1. While precipitation amounts are expected to be near the climatological average for that period, there is a “trend in the forecast for above average temperatures,” according to Met Éireann. This more settled spring weather is anticipated to extend into the first week of March, with a “slight trend towards High Pressure being the more dominant feature” over Ireland and northern Europe. Rainfall amounts are forecast to be below the March weekly average for the week of March 2-8. Met Éireann cautions that the reliability of these long-range forecasts decreases further into the future.
Flood Recovery Efforts and Public Safety Advisories
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) confirmed that “clean-up and repair operations are underway in areas that have been affected by flooding,” as reported by The Irish Times. Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, the Minister of State with responsibility for flood relief, spent the weekend meeting residents impacted by the recent flooding and was scheduled to visit affected areas in Co. Waterford on Sunday. In Dublin, coastal car parks in Clontarf and Sandymount, along with the Clontarf cycle lane, reopened on Saturday, with the Dodder flood gates expected to reopen on Monday. The NECG urged motorists to exercise extreme caution, noting damaged roads and ongoing repair works, including the Carlingford Lough Greenway in Co. Louth. The public is advised against bypassing “Road Closed” signs or driving through floodwater, and to check with transport operators for potential disruptions.
The confluence of immediate weather threats and the cautious optimism of a long-range forecast highlights the persistent challenges Ireland faces with increasingly volatile weather patterns. While ongoing recovery efforts address the aftermath of severe flooding, the potential for new warnings and icy conditions underscores the need for continued vigilance and adaptive planning, even as the prospect of a drier spring offers a much-needed reprieve.