Dublin Airport Radar Down: Met Éireann Responds to Flooding Concerns

Dublin Airport Faces Travel Disruption as Radar Remains Offline, Flooding Adds to Challenges

Dublin Airport passengers are experiencing disruption as heavy rainfall caused flooding on roads leading to the facility, compounding issues stemming from a Met Éireann weather radar outage that began on Wednesday night. While flight operations are currently running as normal, travelers are advised to expect delays and take extra care.

Met Éireann confirmed that its radar system at Dublin Airport has been offline since Wednesday, but stressed that its forecasting capabilities remain intact. The agency is utilizing data from other weather radar systems in Ireland and the UK, satellite imagery, and reports from a nationwide network of ground stations. “The loss of the Dublin radar data was mitigated by use of data from these other sources,” Met Éireann stated, adding that the Dublin area is “well served with ground weather stations.” Weather forecast models and numerical prediction systems are also operating normally.

The disruption comes after significant rainfall impacted north Dublin on Thursday night and Friday morning. Dublin City Council recorded 46mm of rainfall at the Mellowes Road gauge, with a particularly intense period of 9.6mm falling within a single hour. This led to widespread surface water flooding, impacting roads and potentially contributing to travel delays.

Several routes to the airport were affected, including Kinsealy Lane, Rush, Skerries, and various back roads. Dublin Airport issued a statement advising drivers to follow local diversion signage and exercise caution.

The timing of the heavy rainfall and the radar outage has drawn criticism from local government sources, who reportedly believe the Status Yellow warning issued by Met Éireann at 2:37 am on Friday was issued too late to allow for adequate preparation. Met Éireann acknowledged that the weather situation was “complex and evolving,” and the decision to issue the warning was made after rainfall was observed to be heavier than initially forecast.

Looking ahead, conditions are expected to deteriorate further. Temperatures are forecast to plummet overnight, potentially reaching -4 degrees Celsius across Dublin. A nationwide Status Yellow low temperature and ice alert is in effect from 9 pm Friday until 10 am Saturday, warning of sharp frost and icy conditions that could lead to hazardous travel. Counties Antrim, Down, Tyrone and Derry are also under a similar warning.

While Ulster and north Connacht may experience “odd wintry showers,” most areas will remain dry overnight. However, the combination of freezing temperatures and potential lingering moisture from the recent rainfall raises concerns about icy patches on roads and walkways. Afternoon highs on Saturday are only expected to reach 2 to 5 degrees Celsius.

Further south, counties Cork and Kerry are bracing for heavy rainfall from midday Saturday through midnight Sunday, with a Status Yellow rain warning in place. This is expected to cause spot flooding and difficult travel conditions.

The ongoing challenges highlight the importance of robust weather monitoring infrastructure and timely warnings, particularly as Ireland experiences increasingly variable weather patterns. Met Éireann’s radar team continues to work to restore the system at Dublin Airport, but in the meantime, travelers are urged to stay informed and allow extra time for their journeys.