What is Met Éireann?
Met Éireann is Ireland’s National Meteorological Service, responsible for providing official weather forecasts, warnings, and climate data across Ireland. met.ie+1 Its mission is to monitor, analyse, and predict weather, climate, and flooding, delivering services that protect life and property while supporting societal and economic well-being
Ireland’s aviation, media, agricultural, and civil-defense sectors have all benefited greatly from Met Éireann, which was founded in its current form in 1936 (initial weather observations trace back to the 19th century).
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The services and capabilities provided by Met Éireann include:
• Weather forecasts and warnings
Met Éireann provides daily predictions, severe-weather warnings, marine forecasts, and specialized outputs for aviation, transportation, agriculture, and public safety through its round-the-clock forecasting service (General Forecasting and Aviation Forecasting).
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To produce precise short-term and long-range forecasts, it makes use of a strong network of observation stations, radar, satellite imaging, and contemporary modeling methods.
Forecasts are communicated across many channels, including radio, TV, online platforms, and mobile apps – providing extensive public access.
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• Climate Monitoring & Data Services
Met Éireann operates a comprehensive network of synoptic and climate observation stations around Ireland. It captures data on temperature, rainfall, wind, pressure, and more, then archives and quality-controls them for both real-time and historical use.
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These data feed into long-term climate analysis, monthly and seasonal summaries, climate-change assessments, and publicly available databases.
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Through its “climate services,” Met Éireann delivers personalized climate information to support decision-making in sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, health, and environmental management.
• Research, Modelling & Climate Projections
Met Éireann participates in worldwide climate modelling efforts (e.g., via the EC-Earth consortium) and down-scales global models for regional usage.
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For the benefit of climate scientists, policymakers, and academics looking into long-term climate trends, it maintains a high-resolution reanalysis dataset (MÉRA) encompassing decades of Irish climate history.
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Why Met Éireann Matters — Impact & Importance
Public Safety & Preparedness: Met Éireann contributes to the protection of life, property, and vital infrastructure by promptly delivering warnings about storms, high rainfall, wind, flooding, or other dangerous situations.
Support for Key industries: Its data and projections inform agriculture (e.g., planting, harvest), aviation, maritime navigation, transport, construction, and many other industries.
Climate Research & Policy: Historical and real-time data help Ireland assess climate change impacts, plan adaptation strategies, and inform national and regional climate policies.
Trusted Official Source: As the national meteorological authority, Met Éireann provides authoritative, scientifically rigorous data, making it a go-to source for media, government, researchers, and the general public.
Recent Initiative: Digitising Ireland’s Historical Weather Records
In 2025, Met Éireann launched the Irish Weather Rescue Project — a public-facing initiative to digitise roughly 3.5 million handwritten rainfall observations from 763 stations (1864–1951).
This initiative aims to conserve and uncover Ireland’s long-term climate record, offering researchers unprecedented access to historical data – vital for understanding how rainfall patterns and extreme weather occurrences have altered over time.
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By allowing public volunteers to help transcribe those records, the effort also fosters citizen engagement and raises awareness about climate change and the need for long-term data archiving
The Future Vision of Met Éireann
Met Éireann intends to increase its support for “multi-hazard, impact-based decision-making” for weather and flood events as part of its 2024–2034 strategic plan.
Key goals include: expanding user-oriented climate services, enhancing scientific excellence and innovation, upgrading meteorological infrastructure, and building a skilled, sustainable workforce all to ensure that Ireland stays resilient amid changing weather and climate patterns.