Met Éireann to more accurately forecast flash floods with new weather radar system

Mon, 02 Feb, 2026 - 13:39

Neil Michael

Met Eireann’s ability to predict flash floods is set to be enhanced, with the conclusion of a new radar tendering process.

The national broadcaster has finalised a €816,000 contract to install and maintain five dual polarisation weather radar systems.

The new radar systems will be located in Cork, Donegal, Kilkenny, Meath and Roscommon, and will be able to better distinguish the intensity of incoming rainfall, which will allow the forecaster to produce more accurate precipitation accumulation maps.

The radar system has been described as crucial for flash flood warnings, capable of accurately predicting rainfall over a specific area during a defined period of time.

Weather forecaster Alan O’Reilly, of Carlow Weather, said procurement of the radars was a “good thing”.

“At present, Met Eireann does not have weather stations in mountainous areas around the country recording rainfall.

“Instead, they rely on rainfall data to estimate how much rain has fallen on high ground in the last 24 to 48 hours.

“They can then use this data to distinguish how much rain has potentially fallen on high ground."

He said there was still an urgent need for a national public flood warning system.

At present, Met Eireann issues flood “advisories” to local authorities, and it is then up to the councils to pass them onto the public.

The advisories are also passed onto other stakeholders, such as the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, and the Department of Housing.

Local authorities have insisted public early flood warning systems — like a text system that operates in countries like Spain — cannot be done any time soon.

For its part, the Office of Public Works, which oversees Ireland’s attempts to establish a flood forecasting and warning system, says these things take time to deliver.

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