Publication
WEATHER CONDITIONS
From Department of Defence; Office of Emergency Planning
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Defence; Office of Emergency Planning
Published on
Last updated on
Extreme temperatures can affect many parts of the world, often during the summer period, and can cause travel disruption.
If you are planning to travel to a place that may be affected by extreme hot weather, we recommend that you:
If you are already in an area affected by extreme hot weather, you should:
For further information on how to stay safe during a heatwave, visit the HSE website.
Hurricanes are severe tropical storms that can lead to high winds, heavy rain, flooding, mudslides, and tornadoes. They are also known as cyclones and typhoons (depending on the region in which they take place).
Hurricane season runs from the beginning of June to the end of November and can affect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico.
If you’re considering travelling to a storm-prone country, you should monitor local and international weather updates during your stay. You can get detailed weather information and storm tracking from the US National Hurricane Centre and the World Meteorological Organisation.
Always follow local authorities’ instructions about security and evacuation.
Heavy monsoon rains and storms can often lead to dangerous flooding, mudslides and landslides. These can have devastating effects, including loss of life, destruction of whole towns and villages and disruption of transport.
If you’re visiting a flood-affected area, stay informed of regional weather forecasts and plan accordingly. Make sure you have enough drinking water in reserve and check that routes are passable before setting out on long journeys.
Water-borne disease tends to pose a greater risk during heavy flooding so take extra care to avoid drinking contaminated water.
Avalanches and snowdrifts are a danger in mountainous regions, where weather can be unpredictable and can change suddenly. If you’re planning to ski, climb or hike, monitor local weather and safety conditions carefully. You can visit the European Avalanche Warning Services website for more details.
Make sure you have appropriate equipment and always tell someone of your plans. Follow advice from local authorities and observe all written warnings and notices. You should also check that your travel insurance covers you for all activities you’ve planned.
In the Northern hemisphere, meteorological summer is defined by the World Meteorological Organisation as the three warmest months which are June, July and August. However, the three months with the most sunlight are May, June and July.
Met Éireann’s weather forecasts and warnings are available on the Met Éireann website and on the Met Éireann App. Detailed 7 day forecasts for over 1,000 named locations around Ireland are available. Additionally, the website and app has an optional feature that uses the GPS location of the PC or device to provide a 7 day detailed forecast for that exact location.
Push notifications of Weather Warnings are now available on the Met Éireann App. On the app, tap the Menu/My Warnings/Add. You can set up notifications for any county and warning type. Also you can sign up to receive emails of Weather Warnings under the map on www.met.ie/warnings ‘My Warnings Login’.
The Ultra Violet Index (UVI) gives an indication of the potential for skin damage. When the UV index is 3 or above you need to protect your skin.
In Ireland, the UV index is usually 3 or above from April to September, even when it is cloudy. Plan your day to limit time in the sun when UV is strongest, typically between the hours of 11am and 3pm. If it is cloudy everywhere then the UVI is low to moderate (3 to 4) but sunburning can still occur. High night-time temperatures in summer (>15C), can be more impactful, especially on the vulnerable, than high daytime temperatures.
Cloud can be variable from place to place and from time to time in Ireland and due to wind chill it can often feel cool in summer. Nonetheless, a 20 minute sunny interval can produce sunburn.
In the event of strong winds, high, potentially dangerous, waves can occur on lakes as well as along coasts. Even in light winds or calm conditions high waves (swell) can affect coasts/beaches. Winds can exceed general warning thresholds in exposed areas such as coasts and high ground and also in some low lying areas due to funnelling effects.
A storm is named by a National Met Service when Orange or Red level winds are forecast to impact over a wide land area.
In the event of thunderstorms, be aware of the dangers of lightning and do not take shelter under an umbrella or a tree. It is dangerous to be out on open water. Be careful of landline phones or any metal that connects with the ground.
Lightning can strike the same spot twice.
Sudden heavy downpours can lead to flash flooding and poor visibility and can be accompanied by dangerous squally winds and potentially damaging hail.
Met Éireann issue pollen forecasts (low/medium/high) from April until September. There are four main types of pollen: