Ireland faces double weather battering as Storm Boelo to follow Storm Austen
The second named storm of the season is expected to bring further heavy rain and strong winds over the October bank holiday weekend
Ireland is bracing for a double weather battering as a second named storm is set to arrive this weekend, just hours after Storm Austen brings heavy rain, strong winds and flooding risks to parts of the country.
Storm Boelo has officially been named by the UK Met Office and is expected to track to the northwest of Ireland on Saturday, bringing another spell of wet and windy weather.
The development comes as Storm Austen approaches Ireland's southern coastline on Thursday evening, with six counties under Status Orange rain warnings and further disruption expected overnight into Friday.
Storm Boelo, the second named storm of the 2026/27 season, is expected to bring some of its strongest winds to Northern Ireland, Scotland and northern England.
However, the Republic of Ireland will also feel the effects of the weather system, particularly across western and northwestern counties.
Met Éireann is forecasting a wet and windy start to Saturday, with widespread heavy rain and fresh to strong, gusty south to southwest winds. Gale-force winds are expected in some Atlantic areas.
The UK Met Office has warned that gusts could reach 70 to 80mph in exposed coastal areas and on higher ground in the worst-affected parts of the UK, with gusts of 50 to 60mph more widely.
Storm Austen warnings in place across Ireland
Meanwhile, Storm Austen is set to bring intense rainfall and strong winds to Ireland on Thursday night and Friday morning.
Status Orange rain warnings have been issued for Cork, Kerry and Waterford from 10pm on Thursday until 5am on Friday.
A separate Status Orange warning will come into effect for Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow at 2am on Friday, remaining in place until 8am.
Met Éireann has warned that intense rainfall could result in flooding, very difficult travelling conditions and disruption to public transport, including rail and bus services.
A Status Yellow rain and wind warning is also in place for Leinster and Munster from 7pm on Thursday until 10am on Friday.
Strong easterly winds will turn northwesterly and strengthen further as the storm moves through, particularly across southern and southeastern counties.
Possible impacts include localised flooding, fallen trees and branches, displaced debris and disruption to outdoor events.
Forecasters have also warned that smaller rivers and streams could respond rapidly to intense rainfall, with some river levels potentially rising above their banks.
What is the forecast for Saturday?
As Storm Austen clears eastwards on Friday morning, a brief improvement in conditions is expected before another Atlantic weather system arrives.
Friday night will begin largely dry, with some coastal showers, before wet and windy weather spreads from the west.
Saturday will get off to a wet and windy start, with widespread heavy rain and strong, gusty winds.
The rain is expected to ease and become more showery during the early afternoon, although further showers will develop in northwestern areas later in the day.
Temperatures will reach between 12C and 15C, with the mildest conditions expected across Munster and Leinster.
Sunday will bring a mixture of sunshine and showers, some heavy across western and northern counties, with temperatures ranging from 9C to 13C.
However, conditions are expected to deteriorate again on bank holiday Monday, with another spell of heavy and persistent rain spreading northwards across the country.
Met Éireann has also highlighted the possibility of coastal flooding in exposed low-lying areas, as the unsettled conditions coincide with a period of spring tides.
People planning to attend outdoor events over the bank holiday weekend are being advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts and weather warnings.