From: Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on: 21 October 2026
Last updated on: 21 October 2026
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) this afternoon convened a meeting of the National Severe Weather and Flood Coordination Group bringing together Local Authorities, Met Éireann, relevant Government Departments, State Agencies, and utility providers, in advance of the arrival of Storm Austen and further potentially impactful weather over the bank holiday weekend.
The meeting allowed Met Éireann to update stakeholders on Storm Austen, which is expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds across the country, particularly in southern and eastern areas.
Storm Austen is expected to bring high levels of rainfall overnight on Thursday into Friday morning. There is the potential for flooding in southern and eastern areas, with small, mountainous, upland, and urban catchments at greatest risk, as they will respond quickly to the higher-intensity rainfall.
Rivers in the east, south and southeast (including Ballyteigue-Bannow, Barrow, Colligan-Mahon, the Liffey and Dublin Bay, Ovoca-Vartry, Owenavorragh, the Slaney and Wexford Harbour, Blackwater, Lee, Cork Harbour and Youghal Bay, the Suir and the Nore) are likely to experience river level increases that may lead to out-of-bank flooding from Thursday into Saturday.
Wind speeds will also be high in the south, east and midlands.
Local Authorities have activated their severe weather assessment teams in advance of the storm. They, along with other stakeholders, are actively preparing for all eventualities and will be ready to respond in any affected areas where needed.
Public safety advice
Speaking ahead of the arrival of Storm Austen the Head of the NDFEM, Keith Leonard, emphasised:
“There is the potential for heavy rainfall, particularly in southern and eastern coastal counties. Localised flooding is possible, so road users should not attempt to drive through flooded roads. Trees remain in full leaf at this time of year, making them more vulnerable to strong winds – motorists should be alert for fallen trees, debris and difficult driving conditions, particularly during Thursday night and Friday's morning commute. If you need to drive during the next few days, allow extra time for essential travel.
“There will also be strong winds, and I would urge people to secure any loose outdoor items such as bins, garden furniture, trampolines and temporary structures before Thursday evening.
“While river levels currently have some capacity and tides are relatively low, conditions can change quickly during severe weather so it's best to stay informed through Met Éireann and local authority channels and take all necessary precautions. The high winds could also cause hazards around coastal edges, and the Irish Coast Guard advice is clear: ‘Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry.’”
Forecast and Weather warnings
Yellow rain and wind warning nationwide: 7pm Thursday – 10am Friday.
Orange rain warning for Cork, Kerry, Waterford: 10pm Thursday – 5am Friday
Orange rain warning for Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford: 2am – 8am Friday
Potential impacts:
- Difficult travelling conditions
- Localised flooding possible in Yellow warning areas
- Flooding expected in Orange warning areas
- Outdoor events impacted
- Debris, loose objects displaced
- Some fallen trees and branches
- Disruption and delays to public transport
Further strong winds and heavy rain are expected to arrive over Saturday and Sunday, with the potential to cause coastal flooding and impact Bank Holiday events.
The National Severe Weather and Flood Coordination Group will meet again tomorrow and is monitoring the emerging weekend forecast.
Members of the public can access practical and helpful information on emergency preparedness at gov.ie/BeEmergencyReady.