Met Eireann confirms dramatic change in weather ahead of Electric Picnic

Hurricane Erin is set to inflict a significant change upon Irish weather this week as the summer’s ‘final nail in the coffin’ approaches.

Met Éireann have forecast a dramatic switch up in the weather, moving away from the sunny warm spells and into heavy showers and blustery winds.

According to the latest forecast, the remnants of Hurricane Erin will have a large impact on Ireland this week, with a dip in temperatures accompanying the wind and rain that are set to take effect from Tuesday onwards.

Mark Bowe of Met Éireann explained that a change has taken, with the days ahead ‘putting the final nail in our coffin for meteorological summer’ and ‘giving us an early taste of the autumn ahead’.

He said: ‘Well, as we head into the last week in August, which is the last week of the meteorological summer, it’s certainly going to feel like something has changed.

‘Those warm, sunny and humid days are, I’m afraid, gone now as we look ahead to more unsettled blustery weather and, of course, temperatures taking a dip as well, giving us an early taste of the autumn ahead.’

‘The first wave of this will be today (Monday) with a cold front getting flung up and across the country as the remnants of remember, Hurricane Erin, which is now just a regular area of low pressure, is going to move past and set up a base just south of Iceland.

‘Now, this front that moves over us today will be heavy at times and you may even see the odd rumble of thunder in there as well. You’ll know the front is underway because cloud is going to build from the west, with the southerly winds strengthening as well.’

People will be able to enjoy the nice weather on Monday, with temperatures reaching 23C, but Tuesday will see the start of unsettled spells which are set to dominate from then until at least Friday.

This means that it’s not great news for the thousands of festival-goers making their way to Electric Picnic later this week.

Unfortunately for those in Stradbally, the current weather situation doesn’t look good, as while the Met Éireann forecast doesn’t yet stretch through to Saturday and Sunday, it does say that current models indicate showery and blustery conditions throughout the weekend.

The ground may be wet for the early birds pitching their tents on Thursday, with Wednesday set to see strong winds and scattered showers.

Thursday itself doesn’t look much better with ‘blustery westerly winds ushering a few showers, which could be heavy at times’. The temperature will also be dropping as the festival-goers are setting up for the weekend.

Temperatures will also be cooler for the first day of the festival on Friday, but while rain and wind continue in the west of the country, there could be ‘slightly improved conditions further east’.