Met Éireann issues thunderstorm warning for 26 counties

Met Éireann has issued thunderstorm warnings covering all 26 counties as Ireland’s hot spell gives way to a more unstable weather pattern, with heavy rain, hail, lightning and flooding now the main public-safety concerns.

The warning was issued on Thursday, June 25, after thunderstorms began developing rapidly. Reporting from the day said the storm system was bringing short, intense downpours, gusty winds and reduced visibility, creating difficult conditions for drivers and pedestrians.

Power outages were already being reported in the west and northwest, with thousands of homes affected in the coverage. The immediate risks also included localised flooding, lightning strikes and hail, all of which can escalate quickly when storms move through a wide area in a short period.

From heat to storms

The thunderstorm alert followed an unusually warm spell. Coverage on Thursday said temperatures reached 31.7C in Athenry, Co. Galway, before the atmosphere turned more humid and unstable later in the day.

That shift mattered because the storm threat was not a slow-moving weather change but a rapid transition from hot conditions to active thunderstorms. The result was a nationwide warning footprint rather than a narrow, isolated alert.

Where the warnings applied

Early reporting pointed first to Donegal, Connacht and Munster, before further alerts were reported for parts of Ulster, Connacht and the Midlands on Friday. The research packet says the final warning coverage extended across all 26 counties, with Friday warnings still being updated in parts of the country.

A separate yellow high-temperature warning was also still in force into Saturday morning in the reporting, underlining how the weather pattern was shifting unevenly rather than snapping cleanly from one condition to another.

What the impacts were

The main concerns were flash flooding, dangerous driving conditions and interruptions to electricity supply. Heavy bursts of rain can overwhelm drains quickly, while hail and lightning add risks for travel, property and outdoor activity.

The reported outages in the west and northwest added an immediate disruption element for households and businesses. That made the warning more than a forecast headline: it was already connected to visible impacts on the ground.

What comes next

Met Éireann’s warnings were expected to continue being updated as the unstable weather moved through and cooler, less humid Atlantic air began to replace the hot spell. The research packet also flags the chance of further escalation through Friday, depending on how storm cells developed.

The open questions now are straightforward: whether the warnings are extended or upgraded, how many homes remain without power, and whether flooding leads to closures or rescues overnight. For now, the priority is the immediate storm risk rather than the heat that preceded it.

People in affected counties should expect rapidly changing conditions and check official weather updates before travelling.