Issued Friday 23rd October 2026 and valid until further notice
Introduction
Storm Boelo, the second named storm of the 2026/2027 season, has been named by the UK Met Office. Storm Boelo will bring heavy rain to many parts of the country overnight on Friday and through Saturday. It may exacerbate conditions arising after Storm Austen relating to saturated soils, high river levels, surface flooding as well as weakened trees through until Monday.
Strong onshore winds associated with Storm Boelo particularly along western and northwestern coasts may lead to wave overtopping and coastal flooding on Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning, at the peak of the storm. This will be a sustained period of windy conditions which will be felt by many.
WARNINGS AND IMPACTS
Met Éireann has issued the following warnings (on 23rd October at time of publication):
Wind Warnings
A status orange wind warning has been issued for counties Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo. There will be gale force westerly winds with severe and damaging gusts starting early on Saturday afternoon and continuing into Sunday morning. So, a prolonged period of strong winds in the northwest.
Potential Impacts are:
Damage to already weakened structures
Damage to power lines, power outages
Disruption and delays to public transport likely (air, rail, bus, ferry)
Fallen trees
Large coastal waves
Loose objects displaced
Coastal flooding and wave overtopping where winds onshore
Very difficult travelling conditions, dangerous conditions at sea
Yellow wind warnings are in place for Connacht, Clare, Kerry, Limerick and Donegal from early on Saturday afternoon to early on Sunday afternoon.
Potential Impacts are:
Debris, loose objects displaced
Difficult driving and cycling conditions
Large coastal waves
Some fallen trees, branches
Outdoor events impacted
Rainfall Warnings
A status orange rainfall warning has been issued for Kerry for a period of heavy rain on Saturday morning and the early afternoon of Saturday.
Potential impacts are:
Damage to homes and businesses expected
Disruption and delays to public transport (rail, bus)
Flooding expected for upland and urban rivers
Outdoor events severely disrupted
Very difficult travelling conditions
Yellow rainfall warnings have been issued for counties, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo and Sligo for rain which will impact these counties early on Saturday morning to the mid-afternoon on Saturday.
Recent heavy rainfall forecast associated with Storm Austen has led to saturated ground and increased river levels. Further heavy rainfall associated with Storm Boelo is forecast over the weekend, falling on already saturated ground. This will lead to rapid runoff, rising river levels, and an increased risk of both surface water and river flooding, particularly across the West and Southwest.
Smaller rivers are at the greatest risk of responding rapidly to rainfall, while larger rivers will respond more slowly and may continue to rise even after rainfall has eased. Fallen debris may block or impede rivers and drainage channels.
Small upland and urban rivers and surface water flooding are likely during the Bank Holiday weekend in the impacted areas of West and Southwest catchments (Bandon-Ilen, Blackwater (Munster), Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay, Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay, Tralee Bay-Feale, Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare, Shannon Estuary South, Shannon Estuary North, and Mal Bay).
Strong onshore winds associated with Storm Boelo are forecast over the weekend, particularly along western and northwestern coasts. Combined with high tides, storm surge, and large waves, these conditions may result in wave overtopping, and coastal flooding on Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning In Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal, especially at high tide times.
Fig 1 – Mean Sea Level Pressure and precipitation valid at 00:00 Sunday 25th October
The unsettled weather will not end with Storm Boelo. Another area of low pressure is forecast to track to the north of Ireland over the Bank Holiday Monday, with the potential for a further spell of wet and windy weather.
Meteorological Situation
Storm Boelo will approach from the Atlantic on Friday night. Aided by a strong jet stream, it will bring strong and gusty winds as well as heavy rainfall to many parts of the country. Heavy rain will develop in the west overnight on Friday and into Saturday morning. This rain will fall on already saturated soils and into rivers which may still be reacting to the rain from Storm Austen.
Storm Boelo will also bring strong winds, and these winds will increase during the day on Saturday with the peak of the winds expected on Saturday evening and night. The strongest winds will be along western and northern coasts.
The impacts of Storm Boelo are likely to more noticeable as the rain and winds will be during the day and will be for a prolonged period. As people are out and about for the Bank Holiday weekend caution is advised.
Figure 2 – Predicted path of Storm Boelo
Figure 3 Weather warnings as of 10:00 on Friday 23rdOctober
Widespread heavy rain is expected with potential for localised flooding, difficult travelling conditions and impacts to outdoor events. With ground already saturated, intense rainfall will run-off quickly, increasing the risk of flooding, especially in built-up and low-lying areas.
Bank Holiday Outlook
Once Storm Boelo clears on Sunday, there will be a brief drier interlude. However, conditions will become very unsettled once again on Bank Holiday Monday.
Another area of low pressure is forecast to track to the northwest of Ireland on Monday. This will bring a further spell of rain across the country with potential for windy conditions too. As this is the Bank Holiday weekend there will be many events taking place around the country, with Halloween decorations and temporary structures in place, so we would advise that people keep an eye on our forecasts and warnings on met.ie
We are also moving into a period of spring tides and combined with windy conditions, this may lead to coastal flooding in exposed low-lying areas.
HOW TO STAY SAFE IN SEVERE WEATHER – BE EMERGENCY READY
Stay informed & plan ahead:
Stay up-to date with the forecast and the warnings for your county on met.ie, the Met Éireann app or Met Éireann socials (@meteireann).
Check in with your local authority and emergency management stakeholders (Irish Coast Guards, Gardaí, etc) via their websites and social channels on road closures, flooding updates, and community alerts.
Allow for disruption to travel and outdoor events from Saturday into Sunday morning.
Plan extra travel time and reduce speed.
Expect surface water, debris and poor visibility on
Check in with neighbours, older people or anyone who may need assistance in case conditions worsen.
“Be Emergency Ready”: Follow recommendations before, during and after the event on gov.ie – Be Emergency Ready (gov.ie)
This is a multi-hazard event – be aware of elevated flood risk and strong winds:
Coastal areas are likely to experience wave overtopping especially in low-lying locations.
Keep away from coastal edges, harbours, piers and low-lying promenades during high tide. The Irish Coast Guard advice remains: “Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry.”
Stay back from riverbanks, streams and canals – water levels may rise quickly.
Keep children and pets away from waterways and flooded areas.
Do not try to walk, cycle or drive through flooded areas – turn back and use another route.
Remember: As little as 150mm of fast-flowing water can knock you off your feet and 300mm of fast-flowing water can move most cars off the road.
Ensure your mobile is phone is fully charged to enable communication in advance of the event and keep local emergency numbers in your phone.
Take care on exposed roads and bridges.
Watch for fallen branches and debris.
Allow extra time for your trip and if you are driving a high sided vehicle, try to anticipate exposed sections of roadway where winds will be stronger.
Secure loose outdoor items ahead of strengthening winds.
ESB Networks is highlighting the dangers posed by fallen live wires and is advising the public and the emergency services to stay away from these fallen cables and to report such cases to it immediately. ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1800 372 999.
The public can monitor ie in regard to power restoration times.
Keep a small amount of food, medical and water supplies in case it’s dangerous to step out of the home.
Uisce Éireann customers can check the website and social media channels for updates and to get in touch with any issues or concerns via their 24/7 customer care centre at 1800 278 278. The public can also sign up online to their free text alert system to get regular updates about their local supplies – see ie
NOTE THAT:
The warnings are likely to be updated. Please keep in touch with Met Éireann’s social media channels, www.met.ie and the Met Éireann app to stay up to date with the forecast and any warnings’ updates.
The timing and location of extreme weather occurrences can significantly affect their impact. It’s important to note that in any individual weather event, not every location within a warning area may experience the same degree of weather or impacts.
When severe weather is expected, weather and impacts at lower levels are also likely to be experienced. The type and level of impacts can be strongly affected by previous weather conditions. When issuing a warning, Met Éireann takes into consideration the forecasted conditions and thresholds, as well as previous weather conditions that may increase the level of impact expected for particular areas.
WHY AND HOW ARE STORMS NAMED?
Storms are named when they could cause ‘medium’ or ‘high’ impacts in one of the three partner countries. This enables consistent, authoritative messaging to the public and other stakeholders to help them to prepare for and stay safe during potentially severe weather events.
Since 2015, Met Éireann and the UK Met Office have been working together on the naming programme and were joined by the Netherlands’ KNMI in 2019, to form the ‘western group’ of European weather services.
When a storm is forecast, the national weather service that expects the biggest impact from the severe weather to hit its region, or is likely to be first affected by it, names the storm. Storm naming happens in conjunction with orange/red weather warnings, which could be for wind, rain or snow, or a combination of these conditions. Those warnings are, in turn, issued based on a combination of numerical thresholds and the potential impacts foreseen.
HOW ARE STORM NAMES CHOSEN?
Met Éireann, the UK Met Office and KNMI publish a new list of storm names for each Storm Season, which commences on 1st September.
This 2026/27 season, each of the three meteorological services contributed seven names to the season’s list. Four of Met Éireann’s names draw on the history of the service over the last 90 years (Austen, Evelyn, Kilian, Miriam), with the other three being drawn from the suggestions submitted by the public in 2025 (Heather, Laoise, Phelim).
The full 2026/27 list is Austen, Boelo [Boo-loh], Chloe, Dano, Evelyn, Finn, Gwendolyn, Heather, Ivy, Jake, Kilian, Laoise [Lee-sha], Miriam, Nicola, Olaf, Phelim [Fay-lim], Ruban, Shaun, Theo, Vesna, Wende [Vhen-duh].
Figure 4 – Storm Names 2026/27 list
(The names chosen by Met Éireann are in bold. Letters Q, U, X, Y, Z are not included, which is in line with the US National Hurricane Center naming convention).
Impacts of Storm Boelo
Issued Friday 23rd October 2026 and valid until further notice
Introduction
Storm Boelo, the second named storm of the 2026/2027 season, has been named by the UK Met Office. Storm Boelo will bring heavy rain to many parts of the country overnight on Friday and through Saturday. It may exacerbate conditions arising after Storm Austen relating to saturated soils, high river levels, surface flooding as well as weakened trees through until Monday.
Strong onshore winds associated with Storm Boelo particularly along western and northwestern coasts may lead to wave overtopping and coastal flooding on Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning, at the peak of the storm. This will be a sustained period of windy conditions which will be felt by many.
WARNINGS AND IMPACTS
Met Éireann has issued the following warnings (on 23rd October at time of publication):
Wind Warnings
A status orange wind warning has been issued for counties Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo. There will be gale force westerly winds with severe and damaging gusts starting early on Saturday afternoon and continuing into Sunday morning. So, a prolonged period of strong winds in the northwest.
Potential Impacts are:
Yellow wind warnings are in place for Connacht, Clare, Kerry, Limerick and Donegal from early on Saturday afternoon to early on Sunday afternoon.
Potential Impacts are:
Rainfall Warnings
A status orange rainfall warning has been issued for Kerry for a period of heavy rain on Saturday morning and the early afternoon of Saturday.
Potential impacts are:
Yellow rainfall warnings have been issued for counties, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Limerick, Mayo and Sligo for rain which will impact these counties early on Saturday morning to the mid-afternoon on Saturday.
Potential impacts are:
The warnings may be updated. For the latest warnings details, please check Warnings & Advisories – Met Éireann – The Irish Meteorological Service
Flood forecast
Recent heavy rainfall forecast associated with Storm Austen has led to saturated ground and increased river levels. Further heavy rainfall associated with Storm Boelo is forecast over the weekend, falling on already saturated ground. This will lead to rapid runoff, rising river levels, and an increased risk of both surface water and river flooding, particularly across the West and Southwest.
Smaller rivers are at the greatest risk of responding rapidly to rainfall, while larger rivers will respond more slowly and may continue to rise even after rainfall has eased. Fallen debris may block or impede rivers and drainage channels.
Small upland and urban rivers and surface water flooding are likely during the Bank Holiday weekend in the impacted areas of West and Southwest catchments (Bandon-Ilen, Blackwater (Munster), Laune-Maine-Dingle Bay, Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay, Tralee Bay-Feale, Dunmanus-Bantry-Kenmare, Shannon Estuary South, Shannon Estuary North, and Mal Bay).
Strong onshore winds associated with Storm Boelo are forecast over the weekend, particularly along western and northwestern coasts. Combined with high tides, storm surge, and large waves, these conditions may result in wave overtopping, and coastal flooding on Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning In Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal, especially at high tide times.
Fig 1 – Mean Sea Level Pressure and precipitation valid at 00:00 Sunday 25th October
The unsettled weather will not end with Storm Boelo. Another area of low pressure is forecast to track to the north of Ireland over the Bank Holiday Monday, with the potential for a further spell of wet and windy weather.
Meteorological Situation
Storm Boelo will approach from the Atlantic on Friday night. Aided by a strong jet stream, it will bring strong and gusty winds as well as heavy rainfall to many parts of the country. Heavy rain will develop in the west overnight on Friday and into Saturday morning. This rain will fall on already saturated soils and into rivers which may still be reacting to the rain from Storm Austen.
Storm Boelo will also bring strong winds, and these winds will increase during the day on Saturday with the peak of the winds expected on Saturday evening and night. The strongest winds will be along western and northern coasts.
The impacts of Storm Boelo are likely to more noticeable as the rain and winds will be during the day and will be for a prolonged period. As people are out and about for the Bank Holiday weekend caution is advised.
Figure 2 – Predicted path of Storm Boelo
Figure 3 Weather warnings as of 10:00 on Friday 23rd October
Widespread heavy rain is expected with potential for localised flooding, difficult travelling conditions and impacts to outdoor events. With ground already saturated, intense rainfall will run-off quickly, increasing the risk of flooding, especially in built-up and low-lying areas.
Bank Holiday Outlook
Once Storm Boelo clears on Sunday, there will be a brief drier interlude. However, conditions will become very unsettled once again on Bank Holiday Monday.
Another area of low pressure is forecast to track to the northwest of Ireland on Monday. This will bring a further spell of rain across the country with potential for windy conditions too. As this is the Bank Holiday weekend there will be many events taking place around the country, with Halloween decorations and temporary structures in place, so we would advise that people keep an eye on our forecasts and warnings on met.ie
We are also moving into a period of spring tides and combined with windy conditions, this may lead to coastal flooding in exposed low-lying areas.
HOW TO STAY SAFE IN SEVERE WEATHER – BE EMERGENCY READY
Stay informed & plan ahead:
This is a multi-hazard event – be aware of elevated flood risk and strong winds:
NOTE THAT:
The warnings are likely to be updated. Please keep in touch with Met Éireann’s social media channels, www.met.ie and the Met Éireann app to stay up to date with the forecast and any warnings’ updates.
The timing and location of extreme weather occurrences can significantly affect their impact. It’s important to note that in any individual weather event, not every location within a warning area may experience the same degree of weather or impacts.
When severe weather is expected, weather and impacts at lower levels are also likely to be experienced. The type and level of impacts can be strongly affected by previous weather conditions. When issuing a warning, Met Éireann takes into consideration the forecasted conditions and thresholds, as well as previous weather conditions that may increase the level of impact expected for particular areas.
WHY AND HOW ARE STORMS NAMED?
Storms are named when they could cause ‘medium’ or ‘high’ impacts in one of the three partner countries. This enables consistent, authoritative messaging to the public and other stakeholders to help them to prepare for and stay safe during potentially severe weather events.
Since 2015, Met Éireann and the UK Met Office have been working together on the naming programme and were joined by the Netherlands’ KNMI in 2019, to form the ‘western group’ of European weather services.
When a storm is forecast, the national weather service that expects the biggest impact from the severe weather to hit its region, or is likely to be first affected by it, names the storm. Storm naming happens in conjunction with orange/red weather warnings, which could be for wind, rain or snow, or a combination of these conditions. Those warnings are, in turn, issued based on a combination of numerical thresholds and the potential impacts foreseen.
HOW ARE STORM NAMES CHOSEN?
Met Éireann, the UK Met Office and KNMI publish a new list of storm names for each Storm Season, which commences on 1st September.
This 2026/27 season, each of the three meteorological services contributed seven names to the season’s list. Four of Met Éireann’s names draw on the history of the service over the last 90 years (Austen, Evelyn, Kilian, Miriam), with the other three being drawn from the suggestions submitted by the public in 2025 (Heather, Laoise, Phelim).
The full 2026/27 list is Austen, Boelo [Boo-loh], Chloe, Dano, Evelyn, Finn, Gwendolyn, Heather, Ivy, Jake, Kilian, Laoise [Lee-sha], Miriam, Nicola, Olaf, Phelim [Fay-lim], Ruban, Shaun, Theo, Vesna, Wende [Vhen-duh].
Figure 4 – Storm Names 2026/27 list
(The names chosen by Met Éireann are in bold. Letters Q, U, X, Y, Z are not included, which is in line with the US National Hurricane Center naming convention).
About Us