Storm Austen Warning for Wicklow With Heavy Rain Bringing Flood Risk

Difficult driving and localised flooding are possible from 7pm Thursday, with more wet and windy weather lined up for the bank holiday weekend.

A Status Yellow rain warning covering Wicklow and every county takes effect at 7pm on Thursday as Storm Austen, the first named storm of the 2026/27 season arrives.

Met Éireann says heavy rain will spread eastwards across the country until 8am on Friday morning. Difficult travelling conditions, localised flooding and disruption to outdoor events are all possible.

Wicklow has already had a warm-up. Dublin and Wicklow were under a separate Yellow rain warning from 1am to 8am this morning, due to an active weather front.

Where the storm is heading

The centre of Austen is forecast to track south on Thursday night and Friday morning.

Rain will reach the southwest first, then push east across the country.

Ailís Hankinson, operational meteorologist at Met Éireann, says the south is likely to take the worst of it and that warnings could be upgraded. The UK Met Office named the storm because Britain faces the worst of the winds.

No wind warning is currently in place for Ireland. The name Austen was one Met Éireann itself submitted for this season’s list.

Wicklow knows 

It is only nine months since Storm Chandra. Wicklow County Council reported almost 80mm of rain in the county in the space of a week in late January, with rivers very full and Met Éireann’s Flood Forecasting Centre rating river flood risk high for the weekend. Arklow and Wicklow Town were among the areas the council described as recently flood-affected.

Arklow’s long-awaited flood defences are still not built. Wicklow County Council published a tender notice on 12 October for the main works of the Arklow Flood Relief Scheme.

The town has suffered repeated flooding, including in October 2004, October 2005 and December 2015. In Bray, the €46 million Dargle scheme is designed to protect against a 1-in-100-year river flood. ted.europa.eu +2

How the next few days look

• Thursday 7pm: nationwide Yellow rain warning begins.
• Friday 8am: warning ends, rain clears gradually, blustery showers follow.
• Friday night: rain moves in from the west and reaches all areas by morning, with strengthening southerly winds.
• Saturday to Bank Holiday Monday: unsettled, with further wet and windy spells.
• Temperatures are expected to be average for the time of year, possibly in the low double digits. 

Anyone travelling Thursday night or early Friday should allow extra time and watch for standing water.

Check Met Éireann for updates, as warnings could change.

Social copy

Facebook/X: Status Yellow rain warning for Wicklow from 7pm Thursday as Storm Austen arrives.

Heavy rain, tricky driving, localised flooding possible until 8am Friday.

More wet weather for the bank holiday weekend.

Push alert: Storm Austen: Yellow rain warning for Wicklow from 7pm Thursday

Local Council Contact List

Wicklow County Council has published a contacts list for the warning period and is asking people to keep their phones fully charged and carry them on any journey.

In an emergency, dial 999 or 112.

Wicklow County Council office hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Arklow Municipal District: 0402 42700
Baltinglass Municipal District: Blessington area 045 891 222, Tinahely area 0402 38174
Bray Municipal District: 01 274 4900
Greystones Municipal District: 01 287 6694
Wicklow Municipal District: 0404 20173
County Buildings: 0404 20100

Out of hours _ Monday to Friday 5pm to 9am and all weekend: 01 291 6117

ESB Emergency Services: 1800 372 999. Outages can be tracked at PowerCheck.ie.

Uisce Éireann helpline: 1800 278 278. Free text alerts can be set up at water.ie.

Weather updates: met.ie