Trebling of radars will allow for more accurate weather forecasting, says Met Éireann

Shannon Airport’s new radar system is the first to go live in the overhaul of the country’s weather prediction tools, coming on stream as data show that Ireland has become wetter than ever before.

Pádraig Hoare Environment Correspondent The number of radars to observe Ireland’s notoriously changeable weather will treble over the next decade, with Met Éireann saying it will allow more accurate and precise forecasting.

Shannon Airport’s new radar system is the first to go live in the overhaul of the country’s weather prediction tools, coming on stream as data show that Ireland has become wetter than ever before.

Met Éireann claimed that the new system in Shannon will lead to more accurate rainfall information to the weather forecasters and the rainfall radar maps on met.ie and on its app.

The forecaster said the Shannon unveiling is the first step in its plan to upgrade and expand the national weather radar network over the next 10 years.

During this period, the number of radars will triple, from two to six, covering key areas across the country to ensure optimal coverage and forecasting accuracy, it added.

Records now show that climate change has led to Ireland becoming wetter and warmer since 1991.

While the average overall temperature has risen by 0.7C in from 1991 to 2020 compared to the 30 years before that, it has also led to far more rainfall.

The annual average rainfall of 1,288mm for 1991-2020 is an increase of around 7% in the 30 years before that, with the west and north particularly getting caught in showers.

Met Éireann head of the observations division Sarah Gallagher said the weather radar at Shannon Airport is vitally important as most of Ireland’s weather comes from the Atlantic.

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“Shannon is a fantastic location for the first detection and analysis of these rainfall events. This radar will increase the accuracy of our forecasts and of the rainfall radar service for the benefit of all. Our team is already analysing the radar’s new data with a view to further enhancing our service with new features next year.

“This state-of-art upgrade was complex and involved significant background work examining the hardware, technologies to be used, civil works at an airport infrastructure and adapting our systems to accommodate this new information and data.” 

It is the first step of a longer-term project to expand the national weather radar network beyond Shannon and Dublin, she added.

“We’re already researching sites for four additional radars to optimise rainfall detection and coverage capabilities across the country,” Ms Gallagher said.

According to Met Éireann, weather radars provide a steady stream of near real-time information on a continuous basis, and are used to provide information on the location of precipitation within a radius of around 240km.