Storm Austen is set to hit Ireland tomorrow evening with Met Éireann issuing two separate Status Orange rain warnings.

The first warning will be in effect for Cork, Kerry and Waterford from 10pm tomorrow night until 5am on Friday.

A separate Status Orange rain warning has been issued for Dublin, Wexford and Wicklow from 2am until 8am on Friday.

Meanwhile, a Status Yellow warning for wind and rain will also be in effect for all counties from 7pm tomorrow until 10am on Friday.

Met Éireann has forecast very heavy rain with the passing of Storm Austen, with very difficult travelling conditions and localised flooding possible throughout the country.

Each weather warning carries with it different levels of advice for people to adhere to, ranging from simply being aware of the impending weather, to people taking active action.


A flooded road is seen at Passage West during Storm Bert

Met Éireann says the core rationale for issuing such warnings is to protect people’s lives and livelihoods, as well as to mitigate damage to property and any disruption to economic activity.

How is each warning categorised? And what does Met Éireann take into account when issuing them?

Status Yellow:

Under Yellow alerts, people are urged to “Be Aware”.

Met Éireann says it is implicit that Status Yellow warnings are for weather conditions that “do not pose a threat to the general population”.

The aim behind them is moreso to notify those who may be exposed to risk because of their location or activity, and allow them take preventative action.

These are usually used for “not unusual weather” or localised danger.

Status Orange:

Under Status Orange alerts, people are urged to “Be Prepared”.

This level of alert is issued by the forecaster for conditions which have the capacity to “impact significantly” on people in affected areas.

Met Éireann says that the issuing of an Orange level alert implies that “all people in the affected areas should prepare themselves in an appropriate way” for the anticipated conditions, and check any activities they may “delay or cancel as appropriate”.

These are used for weather which is infrequent, as well as potentially “dangerous or disruptive weather conditions which may pose a threat to life or property”.

Status Red:

The big one – under Status Red alerts, people are urged to “Take Action”.

Met Éireann says that the issuing of a Status Red alert should, under normal circumstances, be a rare event. They are classed as “very dangerous weather conditions from intense meteorological phenomena”.

Status Red means that those in affected areas should take active actions to protect themselves and their property.

The forecaster says this can be done by moving families out of a danger zone temporarily, staying indoors or taking other means by which to mitigate the effects of incoming heavy weather conditions.

During a Status Red warning, people are urged to follow instructions and advice given by authorities, and “be prepared for exceptional measures”.

Met Éireann issues weather warnings whenever weather conditions meeting certain detailed thresholds are anticipated within a 48-hour period.

A judgement is then required on the part of the forecaster who must weigh up the possible severity of the weather conditions, as well as the likelihood of their occurrence.

However, Met Éireann says on some occasions such as weekends, and during holiday periods, it may be necessary to issue warnings beyond 48 hours.

What criteria is used to gauge the level of a warning?

Met Éireann says that the numerical criteria below are “strong guidelines”, and that impacts from wind, rain, or snow vary depending on location, recent weather conditions, the state of ground, the time of year as well as the duration of the event.

It adds that: “In any individual weather event, not every location in the warning area may experience the same degree of weather or impacts. When severe weather is expected, weather and impacts at lower levels are also likely to be experienced.”

For Status Red:

For a Status Red rainfall warning, the anticipated rainfall would have to meet the threshold of over 50mm in six hours, 60mm in 12 hours, or 80mm in 24 hours.

For wind warnings, mean wind speeds in excess of 80km/h and gusts in excess of 130km/h would lead Met Éireann to issue a red level wind warning.

For a Status Red Snow-Ice warning, significant snowfalls leading to accumulations of over 10cm in six hours, 15cm or greater in 12 hours, or 30cm or greater in 24 hours, would lead to a warning here.

Under the criteria, minimum air temperatures of -10C (or below) for three consecutive nights or more, a maximum of -2C, as well as the likelihood of a worsening situation with dangerous surfaces would lead to a Low Temperature/Ice warning.


Drivers seen battling snowy conditions on the M7 during the cold snap last year

For Status Orange:

For a Status Orange rainfall warning, the anticipated rainfall would have to meet the threshold of 30-50mm in six hours, 40-60mm in 12 hours, or 50-80mm in 24 hours.

Mean wind speeds of between 65-80km/h and gusts of between 110-130km/h would lead Met Éireann to issue an Orange level wind warning.

For an Orange level Snow-Ice warning, it is similar to that outlined above, however with smaller accumulations of over 3cm rather than 10cm over 6 hours. Minimum air temperatures of -5C would need to be expected over a wide area.

For Status Yellow:

For a Status Yellow rainfall warning, the anticipated rainfall would have to meet the threshold of between 20-30mm in six hours, 30-40mm in 12 hours, or 30-50mm in 24 hours.

It adds that the amount of rain can be up to double on windward upper slopes, and impacts can vary.

Mean wind speeds of between 50-65km/h and gusts of between 90-110km/h would lead Met Éireann to issue a Status Yellow wind warning.

For a Status Yellow level Snow-Ice warning, it is similar as outlined above, however with accumulations of less than 3cm over 24 hours.