Changeable conditions over the Easter weekend with some disruptive weather, mainly on Saturday.
Updated 02/04/2026 —————— ———————–
Introduction
A weather advisory is in place for the entire Easter weekend as we’re moving into a very mobile Atlantic regime. Our weather will be changeable and mixed with some windy or very windy spells and some wet weather at times too, with fluctuating temperatures. We’re in a period of Spring tides, so those high tides in combination with storm surge and strong onshore winds may lead to wave overtopping and flooding in low-lying and exposed coastal areas.
The most disruptive spell of windy weather will be on Saturday afternoon and into Saturday night, when a nationwide yellow wind warning comes into effect, with the potential for some severe gusts, as storm Dave tracks by the west and northwest coast. Storm Dave was named by the UK Met Office on Thursday morning, with stormier conditions expected over Scotland on Saturday night.
Synoptic Setup
The North Atlantic Jet Stream is currently very strong, being fuelled by an increased contrast in temperatures between cold air sinking down from the northwest and mild air moving up from the southwest. This very active Jet Stream will lead to the development and rapid deepening of areas of low pressure which will come close to or over Ireland and the UK over the weekend. The most significant area of low pressure, Storm Dave, will start to develop in the Atlantic to the southwest of Ireland on Friday night, will undergo rapid cyclogenesis as it tracks north-eastwards along western and northwestern coasts later on Saturday and will continue to deepen as it moves into Scotland on Saturday night. As this storm has not yet developed, there is some uncertainty in its depth and track and hence in wind strength. Another developing deep area of low pressure will become anchored close to the southeast of Iceland on Monday, leading to a windy day for Ireland.
Figure 1 ECMWF model showing strong temperature gradient
Friday, April 3rd (Good Friday)
Becoming rather cloudy for a time with some rain and drizzle or showers. An improvement through the afternoon, with the rain and drizzle clearing, followed by sunshine and a scattering of showers. A little bit breezy at times, mainly along southern and western coasts.
Saturday, April 4th
An area of low pressure will start to develop out in the Atlantic on Friday night, developing into Storm Dave as it undergoes rapid cyclogenesis in a right jet entrance and tracks north-eastwards towards the west and northwest coast of Ireland later Saturday and continuing to deepen as it moves into Scotland on Saturday night. Southerly winds will steadily pick up into the afternoon, veering westerly later, with a nationwide yellow wind warning coming into effect from 2pm to 11pm. The strongest of the winds will be in the northwest, with the possibility that changes in the forecast position and intensity of storm Dave, could lead to updates to the warnings, with the slight chance that Donegal could be upgraded to an orange level warning for a time. Storm Dave will also bring some wet weather. High astronomical tides (Spring Tides) coinciding with storm surge, significant wave heights and strong to gale force onshore winds may lead to wave overtopping and coastal flooding at times of high tide. Areas along Atlantic coasts are most vulnerable.
Figure 2 ECMWF model showing Jet stream and pressure on Saturday – Storm Dave has developed to the west of Ireland
Figure 3 DINI model showing predicted wind speeds for Saturday 7pm
Figure 4 DINI model showing predicted precipitation during Saturday evening
Sunday, April 5th (Easter Sunday)
Breezy for a time with sunshine and scattered showers. Cooler too and some of the showers will fall as hail and with some sleet over higher ground, especially in the west and north. A little hill snow is possible early in the morning further north. Fresh to strong westerly winds early on Sunday, combined with high waves may lead to wave overtopping and flooding in low-lying and exposed coastal areas. There’ll be an improvement through the day with the winds easing and showers becoming more isolated, so a mostly dry sunny Easter Sunday evening with lighter winds.
Monday, April 6th
A windy day but milder with just a little rain and drizzle.
WARNINGS AND IMPACTS: Met Éireann has issued the following warnings (as of publication at 3pm on Thursday, April 2nd):
A nationwide Status Yellow wind warning has been issued due to Storm Dave.
Storm Dave will bring very strong southerly winds, veering westerly by the evening with severe gusts and coastal gales.
Possible impacts:
· Some fallen trees, branches
· Wave overtopping
· Difficult traveling conditions
· Debris, loose objects displaced
The warnings may be updated as new model runs are analysed and certainty increases.
Monitor Met Éireann forecasts and/or visit https://www.met.ie/ for the most up to date information. Information is available across social media platforms and other news media sources
Coastal flooding is likely, especially around high tide times and in exposed, low-lying locations along the Atlantic coastal counties
High astronomical tides (Spring Tides) coinciding with storm surge and persistent onshore winds will further increase the risk of coastal flooding. Areas along the west and north coasts are particularly vulnerable
Strong onshore winds combined with high waves may lead to wave overtopping and flooding in low-lying and exposed coastal areas
People travelling long journeys check weather/ road conditions, not just where they are starting from, but at their destination and along the route, as conditions may vary significantly
ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1800 372 999. The public can monitor PowerCheck.ie
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 2025/26 season, each of the three meteorological services contributed seven names to the season’s list. Met Éireann called on Ireland’s public to submit their preferred names through a social media campaign. More than 10,000 names were received from 4,137 members of the public.
The full 2025/26 list is Amy, Bram, Chandra, Dave, Eddie, Fionnuala, Gerard, Hannah, Isla, Janna, Kasia, Lilith, Marty, Nico, Oscar, Patrick, Ruby, Stevie, Tadhg, Violet, Wubbo.
Figure 5 – Storm Names 2025/26 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).
Issued 01/04/2026 ——————— ———————–
Unsettled for the Easter Weekend but uncertainty in the details
Introduction
After a largely drier than average week, conditions are set to deteriorate with spells of wet, windy, and possibly stormy weather expected. A weather advisory has been issued due to the potential for disruptive weather, combined with increased exposure as people head out for the extended Easter weekend, and with a period of Spring tides. Strong onshore winds combined with high waves may lead to wave overtopping and flooding in low-lying and exposed coastal areas. There is uncertainty in the details at present so Met Éireann will continue to monitor the situation and issue updated guidance as and when certainties increase.
Synoptic Setup
A series of low-pressure systems is tracking near Ireland and the United Kingdom, deepening as they do so. The Jet Stream is set to strengthen and move over the country, fuelled by the increased contrast in temperatures from cold air sinking down from the northwest and meeting the milder air to the southwest. The uncertainties arise as these features have not yet developed and with even a small difference in their positioning will determine how rapidly they develop and how strong their associated winds will be.
Figure 1 ECMWF model showing strong temperature gradient
Figure 2 ECMWF model showing strengthening Jet over Ireland
Friday, April 3rd (Good Friday)
Current indications suggest it will turn windy, especially later in the morning and early afternoon, as a developing depression tracks over the country. Current guidance suggests the system will not undergo rapid deepening, but it could still bring some strong winds along with showery outbreaks of rain.
Figure 3 ECMWF model showing predicted wind speeds for Friday
Figure 4 ECMWF model showing predicted precipitation for Friday
Saturday, April 4th
A wet and windy day with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times with spot flooding possible. There is the potential for some very strong south-westerly winds to occur later in the day, most likely for western and northwestern parts. High astronomical tides (Spring Tides) coinciding with storm surge and persistent onshore winds will further increase the risk of coastal flooding. Areas along the west and north coasts are particularly vulnerable.
Figure 5 ECMWF model showing predicted wind speeds for Saturday
Figure 6 ECMWF model showing predicted precipitation for Saturday
Sunday, April 5th (Easter Sunday)
A breezy and showery day. Cooler too and some of the showers will fall as sleet, mainly in the west and north, with the chance of some falls of snow on high ground. Strong onshore winds early on Sunday morning, combined with high waves may lead to wave overtopping and flooding in low-lying and exposed coastal areas.
Figure 7 ECMWF model showing predicted wind speeds for Sunday
Figure 8 ECMWF model showing predicted precipitation for Sunday
Monday, April 6th
Potentially another windy day but current indications suggest that the worst of the wind and rain will stay offshore.
Figure 9 ECMWF model showing predicted wind speeds for Monday
Figure 10 ECMWF model showing predicted precipitation for Monday
Public Safety Messages
Monitor Met Éireann forecasts and/or visit https://www.met.ie/ for the most up to date information. Information is available across social media platforms and other news media sources
Coastal flooding is likely, especially around high tide times and in exposed, low-lying locations along the Atlantic coastal counties
High astronomical tides (Spring Tides) coinciding with storm surge and persistent onshore winds will further increase the risk of coastal flooding. Areas along the west and north coasts are particularly vulnerable
Strong onshore winds combined with high waves may lead to wave overtopping and flooding in low-lying and exposed coastal areas
People travelling long journeys check weather/ road conditions, not just where they are starting from, but at their destination and along the route, as conditions may vary significantly
ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1800 372 999. The public can monitor PowerCheck.ie
Changeable conditions over the Easter weekend with some disruptive weather, mainly on Saturday.
Updated 02/04/2026 —————— ———————–
Introduction
A weather advisory is in place for the entire Easter weekend as we’re moving into a very mobile Atlantic regime. Our weather will be changeable and mixed with some windy or very windy spells and some wet weather at times too, with fluctuating temperatures. We’re in a period of Spring tides, so those high tides in combination with storm surge and strong onshore winds may lead to wave overtopping and flooding in low-lying and exposed coastal areas.
The most disruptive spell of windy weather will be on Saturday afternoon and into Saturday night, when a nationwide yellow wind warning comes into effect, with the potential for some severe gusts, as storm Dave tracks by the west and northwest coast. Storm Dave was named by the UK Met Office on Thursday morning, with stormier conditions expected over Scotland on Saturday night.
Synoptic Setup
The North Atlantic Jet Stream is currently very strong, being fuelled by an increased contrast in temperatures between cold air sinking down from the northwest and mild air moving up from the southwest. This very active Jet Stream will lead to the development and rapid deepening of areas of low pressure which will come close to or over Ireland and the UK over the weekend. The most significant area of low pressure, Storm Dave, will start to develop in the Atlantic to the southwest of Ireland on Friday night, will undergo rapid cyclogenesis as it tracks north-eastwards along western and northwestern coasts later on Saturday and will continue to deepen as it moves into Scotland on Saturday night. As this storm has not yet developed, there is some uncertainty in its depth and track and hence in wind strength. Another developing deep area of low pressure will become anchored close to the southeast of Iceland on Monday, leading to a windy day for Ireland.
Figure 1 ECMWF model showing strong temperature gradient
Friday, April 3rd (Good Friday)
Becoming rather cloudy for a time with some rain and drizzle or showers. An improvement through the afternoon, with the rain and drizzle clearing, followed by sunshine and a scattering of showers. A little bit breezy at times, mainly along southern and western coasts.
Saturday, April 4th
An area of low pressure will start to develop out in the Atlantic on Friday night, developing into Storm Dave as it undergoes rapid cyclogenesis in a right jet entrance and tracks north-eastwards towards the west and northwest coast of Ireland later Saturday and continuing to deepen as it moves into Scotland on Saturday night. Southerly winds will steadily pick up into the afternoon, veering westerly later, with a nationwide yellow wind warning coming into effect from 2pm to 11pm. The strongest of the winds will be in the northwest, with the possibility that changes in the forecast position and intensity of storm Dave, could lead to updates to the warnings, with the slight chance that Donegal could be upgraded to an orange level warning for a time. Storm Dave will also bring some wet weather. High astronomical tides (Spring Tides) coinciding with storm surge, significant wave heights and strong to gale force onshore winds may lead to wave overtopping and coastal flooding at times of high tide. Areas along Atlantic coasts are most vulnerable.
Figure 2 ECMWF model showing Jet stream and pressure on Saturday – Storm Dave has developed to the west of Ireland
Figure 3 DINI model showing predicted wind speeds for Saturday 7pm
Figure 4 DINI model showing predicted precipitation during Saturday evening
Sunday, April 5th (Easter Sunday)
Breezy for a time with sunshine and scattered showers. Cooler too and some of the showers will fall as hail and with some sleet over higher ground, especially in the west and north. A little hill snow is possible early in the morning further north. Fresh to strong westerly winds early on Sunday, combined with high waves may lead to wave overtopping and flooding in low-lying and exposed coastal areas. There’ll be an improvement through the day with the winds easing and showers becoming more isolated, so a mostly dry sunny Easter Sunday evening with lighter winds.
Monday, April 6th
A windy day but milder with just a little rain and drizzle.
WARNINGS AND IMPACTS: Met Éireann has issued the following warnings (as of publication at 3pm on Thursday, April 2nd):
A nationwide Status Yellow wind warning has been issued due to Storm Dave.
Storm Dave will bring very strong southerly winds, veering westerly by the evening with severe gusts and coastal gales.
Possible impacts:
· Some fallen trees, branches
· Wave overtopping
· Difficult traveling conditions
· Debris, loose objects displaced
The warnings may be updated as new model runs are analysed and certainty increases.
For the latest warnings details, please check Warnings & Advisories – Met Éireann – The Irish Meteorological Service
Public Safety Messages
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 2025/26 season, each of the three meteorological services contributed seven names to the season’s list. Met Éireann called on Ireland’s public to submit their preferred names through a social media campaign. More than 10,000 names were received from 4,137 members of the public.
The full 2025/26 list is Amy, Bram, Chandra, Dave, Eddie, Fionnuala, Gerard, Hannah, Isla, Janna, Kasia, Lilith, Marty, Nico, Oscar, Patrick, Ruby, Stevie, Tadhg, Violet, Wubbo.
Figure 5 – Storm Names 2025/26 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).
Issued 01/04/2026 ——————— ———————–
Unsettled for the Easter Weekend but uncertainty in the details
Introduction
After a largely drier than average week, conditions are set to deteriorate with spells of wet, windy, and possibly stormy weather expected. A weather advisory has been issued due to the potential for disruptive weather, combined with increased exposure as people head out for the extended Easter weekend, and with a period of Spring tides. Strong onshore winds combined with high waves may lead to wave overtopping and flooding in low-lying and exposed coastal areas. There is uncertainty in the details at present so Met Éireann will continue to monitor the situation and issue updated guidance as and when certainties increase.
Synoptic Setup
A series of low-pressure systems is tracking near Ireland and the United Kingdom, deepening as they do so. The Jet Stream is set to strengthen and move over the country, fuelled by the increased contrast in temperatures from cold air sinking down from the northwest and meeting the milder air to the southwest. The uncertainties arise as these features have not yet developed and with even a small difference in their positioning will determine how rapidly they develop and how strong their associated winds will be.
Figure 1 ECMWF model showing strong temperature gradient
Figure 2 ECMWF model showing strengthening Jet over Ireland
Friday, April 3rd (Good Friday)
Current indications suggest it will turn windy, especially later in the morning and early afternoon, as a developing depression tracks over the country. Current guidance suggests the system will not undergo rapid deepening, but it could still bring some strong winds along with showery outbreaks of rain.
Figure 3 ECMWF model showing predicted wind speeds for Friday
Figure 4 ECMWF model showing predicted precipitation for Friday
Saturday, April 4th
A wet and windy day with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times with spot flooding possible. There is the potential for some very strong south-westerly winds to occur later in the day, most likely for western and northwestern parts. High astronomical tides (Spring Tides) coinciding with storm surge and persistent onshore winds will further increase the risk of coastal flooding. Areas along the west and north coasts are particularly vulnerable.
Figure 5 ECMWF model showing predicted wind speeds for Saturday
Figure 6 ECMWF model showing predicted precipitation for Saturday
Sunday, April 5th (Easter Sunday)
A breezy and showery day. Cooler too and some of the showers will fall as sleet, mainly in the west and north, with the chance of some falls of snow on high ground. Strong onshore winds early on Sunday morning, combined with high waves may lead to wave overtopping and flooding in low-lying and exposed coastal areas.
Figure 7 ECMWF model showing predicted wind speeds for Sunday
Figure 8 ECMWF model showing predicted precipitation for Sunday
Monday, April 6th
Potentially another windy day but current indications suggest that the worst of the wind and rain will stay offshore.
Figure 9 ECMWF model showing predicted wind speeds for Monday
Figure 10 ECMWF model showing predicted precipitation for Monday
Public Safety Messages
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