‘Nasty storms’ could be on the way for Ireland next week, say weather experts

'One to keep an eye on.'

On Thursday evening (16 January), the weather expert told his social media followers in a post that if they were heading to the eastern part of the United States next week, the conditions there would be "very cold".

He then added: "That deep cold will then fire up the Jet Stream later next week which could develop some nasty storms in the Atlantic that COULD head our way."

Though he followed this up by stating that this was "very uncertain yet", he said the situation was "one to keep an eye on".

If you are heading to East of USA next week it will be very cold and that deep cold will then fire up the Jet Stream later next week which could develop some nasty storms in the Atlantic that *COULD* head our way. Very uncertain yet but one to keep an eye on. pic.twitter.com/TWBdVGR9IW

— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) January 16, 2025

O'Reilly is not the only weather expert alerting the Irish public about the potential storms.

Cathal Nolan of Ireland's Weather Channel also issued a post, explaining why "we need to keep one eye firmly out to the Atlantic through the second half of next week".

According to Nolan, most weather models are showing some "very deep areas of low pressure" in the vicinity of Ireland, suggesting "some potentially stormy weather may develop".

Explaining further, he said:

"A lobe of the polar vortex is becoming displaced across North America, unleashing some truly bitterly cold air across the American continent. However, as that very cold air streams out across the Atlantic and interacts with very warm air to the south, it fires up the jet stream and spawns some deep low pressure systems.

"These particular storm depressions are projected to move very close to Ireland through the second half of next week, but higher pressure to the northeast of Ireland may cause enough of an obstacle to prevent the worst of the wind and rain from reaching us, which is where the uncertainty arises.

"There’s also the much smaller risk that the low pressure systems find a way to dig southeast and we draw in some colder air, or the possibility that these storms push more to the north and draw in mostly very mild but drier air from the south, though this seems least likely at present.

"Either way, it’s something we need to pay close attention to as powerful low pressures of this magnitude can prove to be quite disruptive.

"There’s still much to play for and the evolution of the weather models over the coming days will be a fascinating watch."

Met Éireann has only released its national forecast up until next Tuesday, before the potential storms could reach Ireland.

It states, however, that next week will start off cloudy, with outbreaks of rain.

Highest temperatures will reach around 8 or 9 to 11 degrees.