Weather expert in tornado update for Ireland after freak Leitrim event

One weather expert has issued an explain on tornadoes after the freak weather event caused damage to buildings and vehicles in Leitrim village over the weekend.

Ahead of Storm Fergus, a tornado whirled through the village, leaving a trail of destruction including a car with timber from a nearby building smashed through the windscreen.

Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather said on Monday that is is "so lucky nobody was hurt" but explained that while "tornadoes are rare in Ireland, we do have around 10-12 a year and have seen damage to homes and buildings in the past."

This includes one near Foulksmills in Wexford just over a year ago which caused severe damages to a number of houses.

Alan explained: "I've reported on a few of them before and shared footage of one or two that were captured in the last year.

"Generally, they happen out over open fields and they might take down a couple of trees. It's unusual for them to hit a populated area but that's obviously what happened in Leitrim."

Having received a number of questions on the freak weather events from people concerned about more tornadoes, Alan put peoples' minds at ease.

"The forecast is not showing anymore thunderstorms so the risk of tornadoes has certainly passed and the chances of that happening in your area is very, very slim."

A brief update on the weather this evening and the week ahead. Also trying to answer a few questions on tornadoes in Ireland as people sending messages that they are worried. pic.twitter.com/UDYIurkKT5

— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) December 10, 2023

In a nice change, Met Éireann is predicting "less windy and drier" weather by midweek but it will be "remaining unsettled with rain or showers early on" this week. It also looks like wet weather will return for the weekend.

"Monday morning will be mainly dry with some sunny spells. Rain will develop in the west and southwest around noon and will spread eastwards through the afternoon and evening, becoming heavy at times. Staying dry though in much of the north and east until after dark. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees with freshening south to southeast winds," Met Éireann predicts.

"Early tonight [Monday], rain will continue to move northeastwards, mainly affecting Leinster and Ulster. It will clear to the northeast with clear spells and scattered showers following. Some of the showers will be heavy with a risk of hail and a slight chance of thunder, especially in parts of the west and south. Moderate to fresh south to southeast winds will become southerly and decrease mostly light, with some mist and fog forming. Lowest temperatures 3 to 7 degrees.

"The mist and fog will slowly clear tomorrow morning [Tuesday] and early afternoon, but it will remain mostly cloudy for the day. There'll be some scattered showers too, and a few will be heavy especially early on, but overall a good deal of dry weather. Highest temperatures of 8 to 10 degrees with light, variable breezes, becoming northwesterly later and freshening in coastal parts of the west.

"Tuesday night will start off mostly cloudy with some scattered showers. It will become mainly dry overnight. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in light to moderate northerly winds.