Met Éireann Issues Orange Thunderstorm Warning for Cork

Met Éireann has issued an Orange Level Thunderstorm warning for Cork, Kerry, and Waterford, with thunderstorms likely to develop this afternoon and evening in places.

The warning, issued at 14:38 on Thursday, 25 June 2026, comes into effect at 16:00 and remains in force until 19:00.

Meteorologists say the storms are being triggered by a weak warm front tracking along the northwest coast of Ireland, closely followed by a cold front overnight. The moisture fuelling the system comes from the exceptionally warm and humid conditions observed over the last number of days, with both the instability and the potential lift being derived from the weather fronts.

CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) values, which indicate the amount of energy available in the upper air to fuel thunderstorms, are expected to exceed 3,000 J/kg in some areas, values Met Éireann describes as exceptional for Ireland and often associated with the extreme thunderstorm activity observed on continental Europe.

Possible impacts include heavy downpours leading to localised flooding, dangerous lightning, hail, hazardous driving conditions, and very gusty winds. Conditions can change rapidly.

Met Éireann advises the public to move indoors immediately if thunder is heard and to avoid driving unless necessary if heavy rain begins. If roads become flooded, people should turn around and find another route, and should never drive, walk, or cycle through floodwater. Outdoor sports, including swimming, should be stopped if lightning develops.

Up-to-date forecasts and warnings are available at met.ie.