Storm Éowyn to hit Waterford on Thursday night, Met Éireann forecasts
Met Éireann says weather warnings "will be issued".
Storm Éowyn is due to hit Waterford on Thursday night into Friday, Met Éireann has forecast in a national weather advisory.
The storm, caused by a deepening low-pressure system, is expected to bring high seas, spells of heavy rain, and damaging winds.
Storm Éowyn (pronounced AY-OH-WIN) may also cause "transitory falls" of sleet and snow, Met Éireann has forecast, though notes these conditions are likely to be concentrated across west and northwest counties.
Waterford is expected to face "very strong to gale force winds" which the national forecaster noted may have the potential for "damaging wind gusts and disruption in places."
Met Éireann said it is "continuously monitoring the evolving situation and weather warnings will be issued as confidence in the forecast track/intensity of the Low-Pressure system improves." Weather warnings are typically issued within two days of a weather event when it enters into the forecasters' "high-resolution model".
The forecaster has warned that the storm will begin to be felt overnight on Thursday into Friday. Dangerous travelling conditions, fallen trees, power outages and surface water flooding are among the most serious impacts that Met Éireann has advised could hit the country this week.
Relevant to coastal areas of Waterford, it is expected that wave overtopping may occur at high tide due to the strong on-shore winds likely to be caused by the storm.
“Storm Éowyn will bring wet and very windy conditions on Friday, especially in the west and northwest," said Met Éireann's Deputy Head of Forecasting, Liz Coleman, "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 likelihood of trees down and potentially power outages."
"Wave overtopping is also expected at high tide. There could be localised flooding further into Saturday associated with the heavy rain and to the snow melt."
The forecaster "will issue warnings as Met Éireann’s high-resolution model, which provides information two days ahead, comes into play.
"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.”
The national forecaster has urged the public to keep abreast of further forecasts and any weather warnings to be issued by using the Met Éireann smartphone app or by checking the met.ie website in the coming days.
The advisory is now in effect and will end at midnight on Saturday when the forecaster expects the storm to have dissipated.
The storm was named Éowyn by the UK Met Office and is the fifth named storm of the 2024-2025 season.
