New 3-hr Met Éireann thunderstorm warning for six Irish counties

Thunderstorm warning

Met Éireann has issued a three-hour thunderstorm warning for parts of Ireland as the country’s heatwave continues, with the strongest impacts expected later on Thursday, June 25, 2026.

The warning is split between two levels. Cork, Kerry and Waterford are under a Status Orange thunderstorm warning from 4pm to 7pm, while Donegal and Connacht are covered by a Status Yellow warning from 3pm to 6pm.

The timing means the main storm risk is expected to build through the afternoon and into the evening rather than earlier in the day. Forecasters have linked the setup to the day’s exceptional heat, which is helping fuel storm development.

What the warning means

The expected impacts include torrential rain, localised flooding, lightning, hail, gusty winds and hazardous driving conditions. Coverage also says there is a small but notable tornado risk, although tornadoes are rare in Ireland.

The split orange-and-yellow structure means conditions may differ sharply from one county to another, even over a short distance. The higher-end warning for Cork, Kerry and Waterford indicates the most severe weather is most likely there during the three-hour window.

Donegal and the Connacht region remain at the lower alert level, but the warning still points to heavy showers, lightning and the chance of sudden disruption for travel and outdoor plans.

Heat driving the storm risk

The thunderstorm alert comes against a backdrop of unusually hot weather, with Ireland also under a Status Yellow high-temperature warning.

Earlier coverage on Thursday said temperatures could reach about 34C, and forecasters say the heat is creating conditions for vigorous storm cells later in the day. That makes this a combined heat and thunderstorm event rather than a standalone weather front.

Chronology of the warnings

The weather risk developed in stages on Thursday morning and early afternoon. By 8:45am, coverage was already warning that thunderstorms could follow the hottest part of the day.

At 11:07am, reports said Met Éireann had issued the three-hour thunderstorm warning, with orange alerts for Cork, Kerry and Waterford and yellow alerts for Donegal and Connacht.

A later update at 12:15pm repeated the same warning structure and added that the storms could bring hail, flooding, lightning and possible tornado risk.

What to watch next

The main question now is whether Met Éireann will upgrade, extend or cancel any of the warnings later today.

Local reports of flooding, hail damage, lightning strikes or power cuts will help determine how severe the event becomes on the ground once the storms move through.

Officials and residents in the affected counties are also watching whether the heat warning remains in force beyond Saturday morning, as the wider weather pattern stays unsettled.