Irish weather experts give grim forecast for weekend as Storm Goretti named

Storm Goretti, named by the French Met Office Météo-France, has emerged as the first significant weather system of 2026 over northwest Europe prompting weather warnings and disruptions across parts of the UK and northern France in the coming days.

While it's most direct and intense impacts will be felt more elsewhere, weather experts in Ireland say the storm's influence will still be felt here in the shape of unsettled conditions such as widespread rain and continuing cold and icy conditions.

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Storm Goretti is forecast to bring heavy snow, strong winds and rain across large parts of the UK on Thursday and Friday. According to Met Éireann, there are no major storm warnings for Ireland as of yet but knock-on effects could see colder air, showers and frost coming our way.

Forecasts suggest windier, wetter conditions may return later this week and into the weekend as low pressure systems continue to push in.

Video shows latest forecast for that low system Thursday across all weather models. As you can see some rain for South of Ireland but tricky in England with risk of heavy snow in parts. pic.twitter.com/DOHLaxilzh

— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) January 6, 2026

Today

A mix of cloud and sunny spells this afternoon with scattered showers extending from the northwest. Highest temperatures of 3 to 8 degrees, coolest in the east, with mostly moderate southwesterly winds, veering northwesterly.

Largely dry and clear early tonight with just a few showers. Cloud will extend eastwards across the country from the west later tonight with some outbreaks of rain and drizzle reaching Atlantic fringes by morning. Less cold than preceding nights but still with frost in places with lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees in mostly moderate westerly winds.

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Tomorrow

Mostly dry and cloudy early tomorrow. Outbreaks of rain and drizzle in Atlantic fringes will slowly track eastwards. Some bright spells are possible in eastern parts where it will remain dry until the late afternoon.

Some clear spells and isolated showers will develop in the west and southwest in the evening. Highest temperatures of 3 degrees in the northeast to 8 or 9 degrees in the southwest, with mostly light westerly winds, backing southerly through the day.

Any rain or drizzle in the east will clear, giving way to a mostly dry night apart from a few coastal showers. Some rain and drizzle may push into parts of the southwest and south too. Some frost is possible with lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees, with mostly light to moderate westerly winds.

Thursday

There is some uncertainty in the detail for Thursday. Current indications are that while there will be rain and drizzle further south, there will be drier and possibly brighter conditions further north with just some coastal showers. Highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees, with light variable winds becoming northwesterly and increasing light to moderate through the day.

A dry night for many with some clear spells. However, further west, some showers, possibly of hail, will feed in from the Atlantic. Frost in places with lowest temperatures of -1 to 2 degrees, with light to moderate westerly winds.

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Friday

Plenty of dry and bright weather for many on Friday. However, showers will feed into Atlantic counties, with some of these wintery in nature. Highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees, with light to moderate west to northwest winds, fresher in Atlantic coastal areas.

Saturday

It will start off cold and dry. While there is uncertainty in the timing, wetter and windier conditions are expected to arrive from the west later in the day. Highest afternoon temperatures of 3 to 8 degrees.