Met Éireann says unsettled weather will follow thunderstorms and tornado reports in Ireland

Ireland’s recent spell of hot weather has shifted into thunderstorms and a forecast for unsettled, changeable conditions, according to coverage of Met Éireann’s latest outlook.

The update comes after a sharp swing in the weather over the last few days, with heat in the west of the country followed by thunderstorm warnings and reports of storm disruption.

From heat to storms

Coverage on June 25 said Galway reached 31.7C before thunderstorm warnings were issued and severe convective weather became a concern in parts of Ireland.

By June 26, reports had emerged of a tornado in Galway during a Status Orange thunderstorm alert. Local weather observers and footage shared online were cited in those reports, along with accounts of storm damage.

The Galway area has been at the centre of the weather shift, moving quickly from one of the hottest spells of the year into a period of thunderstorms, hail risk and heavy showers.

What the forecast says next

The latest forecast described in coverage points to rain spreading in from the southwest, with showers and cooler temperatures expected through the weekend.

Met Éireann’s outlook is said to be unsettled rather than quickly stabilising, with changeable conditions likely to continue into next week.

One report says warmer air could return later next week, or in about ten days, but the immediate pattern remains dominated by showers and rain.

Galway tornado reports

Tornadoes are rare in Ireland, but weather commentator Alan O’Reilly said they do happen. Coverage cited an annual figure of about 12 tornadoes, usually small.

That makes the Galway report notable, even though the exact scale and track of the storm activity remain part of the wider picture forecasters are still watching.

What it means now

The short-term impact is mainly on travel, outdoor plans and other weekend events, where showers, wind or lingering thunderstorms could still cause disruption.

The broader risk also includes localized storm damage from lightning, hail and any confirmed tornado activity.

For now, the key message from the forecast is that Ireland’s weather has turned unstable after the heat, and it may take several days before conditions settle again.