The desire and need to predict our weather and climate have existed for thousands of years, long before the development of modern forecasting methods and systems. As a result, a rich catalogue of proverbs and sayings have arisen over time in efforts to understand and predict the behaviour of our atmosphere. However, as stated by Richard Inwards, author of The unique bedside book of Weather Lore, “many weather proverbs contain evidence of keen observation and just reasoning, but a greater...

There are few places on Earth more challenging to live than the southernmost continent, Antarctica, the world’s highest, driest, windiest, and coldest continent. In this month’s episode of the Met Éireann Podcast, Liz and Noel speak to an Antarctic meteorologist about the challenges of working in one of the most extreme locations on the planet.

There are few places on Earth more challenging to live than the southernmost continent, Antarctica, the world’s highest, driest, windiest, and coldest continent. In this month’s episode of the Met Éireann Podcast, Liz and Noel speak to an Antarctic meteorologist about the challenges of working in one of the most extreme locations on the planet. In March 2020, John Law returned from a 17-month stint in Antarctica working as a meteorologist for the British Antarctic Survey. In this interview,...

We’re heading storm chasing in this month’s episode of the Met Éireann podcast! Liz and Noel are joined by meteorologist Paul Downes as they discuss a trip last year to ‘Tornado Alley’, an infamous region in the United States with notorious severe weather.

We’re heading storm chasing in this month’s episode of the Met Éireann podcast! Liz and Noel are joined by meteorologist Paul Downes as they discuss a trip last year to ‘Tornado Alley’, an infamous region in the United States with notorious severe weather. We hear how the team spent two weeks tracking storms across the plains of Kanas, Oklahoma and several other states, looking for and avoiding hazards like lightning, damaging hail, and of course, tornados! Paul takes us through where and...

In the first episode of 2020, Liz and Noel are joined by Met Éireann marine researcher Dr. Sarah Gallagher and surf coach and professional bodyboarder Seamus McGoldrick of Sligo Surf Experience. Together, they explore how waves form and travel, and the best ways to predict their development as a forecaster and as a surfer.

Located on the western edge of Europe, Ireland experiences the full impact of the Atlantic Ocean’s waves. In the first episode of 2020, Liz and Noel are joined by Met Éireann marine researcher Dr. Sarah Gallagher and surf coach and professional bodyboarder Seamus McGoldrick of Sligo Surf Experience. Together, they explore how waves form and travel, and the best ways to predict their development as a forecaster and as a surfer. We hear how local conditions such as wind, tides and seabed all...

In the Christmas edition of the Met Éireann Podcast, Liz and Noel dig into all things snow. We hear about how often we get a white Christmas, how frequent snowfall is in general, and review some of the notable big snow events we’ve experienced in Ireland and around the world.

In the Christmas edition of the Met Éireann Podcast, Liz and Noel dig into all things snow. We hear about how often we get a white Christmas, how frequent snowfall is in general, and review some of the notable big snow events we’ve experienced in Ireland and around the world. We explore the different weather conditions that can lead to snowfall including sudden stratospheric warming, and why it can be so tricky to forecast snow in Ireland. We often hear that all snowflakes are unique, but how...

In this episode, Liz and Noel take a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations and activities taking place in Met Éireann in the build up to a potentially major weather event.

Storms and severe weather can impact Ireland several times a year, and ensuring the public and its services are well-informed of these events is a key role for Met Éireann. In this episode, Liz and Noel take a behind-the-scenes look at the preparations and activities taking place in Met Éireann in the build up to a potentially major weather event. They are joined in studio by this month’s guest Evelyn Cusack, Head of Forecasting in Met Éireann. We hear how forecasters determine the likely...

This month Keith Lambkin – Senior Climatologist at Met Éireann – joins Liz and Noel to discuss all things geophysical and meteorological from his time as Chief Scientist at Valentia Observatory.

The story of Valentia Observatory in Co. Kerry begins with a shipwreck in 1859. It continues with the laying of the first telegraphic cable from America to Europe, the Irish Civil War, the moving of the Observatory from Valentia Island to the mainland at Cahirciveen and the evolution of meteorology from daily observations to continuous measurement of earth and sky.   This month Keith Lambkin – Senior Climatologist at Met Éireann – joins Liz and Noel to discuss all things geophysical and...

In this episode, Dr. Alan Hally from the Research Division in Met Éireann joins Liz and Noel to talk about the concepts behind using computers to forecast the weather, how accurate they have become and what the limiting factors are in terms of scale and forecast duration. Can they tell us if we will get a white Christmas this year?

Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) is essentially how we use computers to help forecast the weather. Today some of the most powerful super-computers in the world are dedicated to weather forecasting and climate applications. In this episode, Dr. Alan Hally from the Research Division in Met Éireann joins Liz and Noel to talk about the concepts behind using computers to forecast the weather, how accurate they have become and what the limiting factors are in terms of scale and forecast duration....

The hurricane season in North America lasts from June to November, so this month we speak to John Cangialosi from the National Hurricane Centre in Florida, to learn all about hurricanes.

The hurricane season in North America lasts from June to November, so this month we speak to John Cangialosi from the National Hurricane Centre in Florida, to learn all about hurricanes. Did you know that about 70% of the hurricanes that affect the southern and eastern United States originate in Africa, or that strong winds are not actually the most dangerous part of a hurricane? In this episode you will find out more about this, plus what ingredients you need present for a hurricane to form,...

Weather has a massive impact on day-to-day life in Ireland. However, what drives the weather and climate we experience in this country? In this episode, we will be answering the question ‘What Causes Ireland’s Weather?’ with Met Éireann meteorologist and forecaster Pat Clarke.

Weather has a massive impact on day-to-day life in Ireland. However, what drives the weather and climate we experience in this country? In this episode, we will be answering the question ‘What Causes Ireland’s Weather?’ with Met Éireann meteorologist and forecaster Pat Clarke. Firstly, why do we have weather at all? We will start with the underlying global processes and then narrow it down to Ireland. How does the shape, rotation and axis of the earth affect our climate? What is ‘air...

With our guest this month, Seamus Walsh – Head of Climate and Observations at Met Éireann – we bring you through the fundamentals of climate change and discuss the latest climate projections for Ireland and the world, including how temperature, rainfall, storms and sea level will all change into the future.

With our guest this month, Seamus Walsh – Head of Climate and Observations at Met Éireann -  we bring you through the fundamentals of climate change and discuss the latest climate projections for Ireland and the world, including how temperature, rainfall, storms and sea level will all change into the future. We explore the greenhouse effect, how it works, and how emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane contribute to changing our climate. We talk about measuring our...

Welcome to the new Met Éireann Podcast. In this monthly podcast we will be taking you through all things weather and climate. In our first episode released on Friday June 21st we will be discussing the fundamentals of climate change and the climate projections for Ireland for the end of this century.