Every season announces itself with a final gesture before yielding to what comes next, and Ireland's September is no different. After an extraordinary stretch of heat that briefly made the North Atlantic feel Mediterranean, Met Éireann has marked Thursday as the last dry day before persistent rain and autumn winds reclaim the island. It is the kind of meteorological turning point that reminds us how briefly warmth is lent to these latitudes, and how faithfully the old patterns return.
Ireland's final dry September day before autumn storms arrive
Thursday is the last dry day before the rain comes and does not let up
Mark
So Thursday is genuinely the last dry day? Not just the last one that's guaranteed to be dry?
Mimi
That's the distinction Met Eireann is making. There's always uncertainty in forecasting, but they're confident enough to call Thursday the final dry day. After that, rain is coming and it's heavy.
Mark
And this is a big shift from how September started?
Mimi
Dramatic. The month opened with temperatures over 30 degrees—genuinely hot. Now we're talking about possible flooding and mid-teens. It's not just a change; it's a reversal.
Mark
Why does the rain linger so long on Friday? Why doesn't it just pass through?
Mimi
The system moving up from the south is persistent and heavy. It's not a quick shower. The forecast suggests it could sit over the country for much of the day before clearing. That's the kind of rain that causes problems.
Mark
Is this typical for mid-September in Ireland?
Mimi
More typical than 30-degree heat, certainly. This is closer to what autumn actually looks like here. The early heatwave was the anomaly. This is the pattern reasserting itself.
Mark
What should people actually do with this information?
Mimi
If you've been putting off outdoor plans, Thursday is your window. After that, you're looking at several days of wet weather. It's not dramatic, but it's real.
The Pulse
- A month that opened with 30-degree heat is closing fast — Thursday is the last window before the rains arrive and do not easily leave.
- Heavy, persistent rainfall moving up from the south Thursday night carries a real risk of flooding, with Friday waking to slow-clearing downpours and temperatures falling to as low as 12 degrees.
- The weekend offers no true shelter — Saturday mixes sun and showers, Sunday turns wetter still, and easterly winds push daytime highs into the low teens.
- Europe may squeeze out one final warm pulse on Saturday, but Ireland's transition is already decided: by early next week, autumn will have fully taken hold.
Every season announces itself with a final gesture before yielding to what comes next, and Ireland's September is no different. After an extraordinary stretch of heat that briefly made the North Atlantic feel Mediterranean, Met Éireann has marked Thursday as the last dry day before persistent rain and autumn winds reclaim the island. It is the kind of meteorological turning point that reminds us how briefly warmth is lent to these latitudes, and how faithfully the old patterns return.
Ireland is about to turn a corner. After a September that opened with temperatures climbing past 30 degrees — a scorching stretch that felt almost Mediterranean — the national weather service has drawn a clear line: Thursday is the last dry day before the season reasserts itself.
Thursday will begin with mist and fog clearing across much of the east, giving way to sunny spells and temperatures in the mid to late teens. Some cloud and drizzle will edge in from the Atlantic by afternoon, but for most of the country, the day will remain manageable. Ulster is expected to stay dry throughout.
Then Thursday night changes everything. Heavy, persistent rain will push up from the south, bringing flooding risk as it spreads across the island. Friday will wake to very heavy overnight rain that lingers through much of the day before finally easing in the early evening, with temperatures dropping to between 12 and 17 degrees.
The weekend brings little comfort — Saturday offers a mix of sunny spells and showers, Sunday turns wetter, and winds shifting to the east and northeast will keep daytime highs in the low to mid-teens. By early next week, conditions will be thoroughly autumnal. Thursday, then, is a threshold. Enjoy the dry day while it lasts.
Ireland is about to turn a corner. After a month that began with temperatures climbing past 30 degrees, the national weather service has drawn a line: Thursday will be the last dry day of September. After that, the rain comes, and it does not let up easily.
The shift has already begun. Early September brought a scorching stretch that felt almost Mediterranean—the kind of weather that makes people forget they live on an island in the North Atlantic. But by the weekend, that spell broke. Cooler air moved in, and rain started to fall. Now, as mid-September arrives, the pattern is settling into something more familiar: wet, unsettled, autumnal.
Thursday's forecast is the last reprieve. The day will start dry, with mist and fog clearing in the morning hours across much of the eastern half of the country. Sunny spells will break through in places. Temperatures will sit in the mid to late teens—cool but not cold. Clouds will thicken elsewhere, and some rain and drizzle will edge in from the Atlantic during the afternoon, but for most of the day, it will be manageable. Ulster, in the north, is expected to stay dry throughout.
Then Thursday night arrives, and the character of the weather changes entirely. Heavy, persistent rain is forecast to move up from the south, bringing the possibility of flooding as it spreads across the country. Low cloud and mist will accompany it. Friday will wake to very heavy overnight rain that will be slow to clear, possibly lingering through much of the day before finally petering out in the early evening. Temperatures will drop to between 12 and 17 degrees.
The weekend offers little relief. Saturday will bring a mix of sunny spells and showers, with the showers most frequent in the east. Sunday looks wetter still, with outbreaks of rain likely. Winds will shift to the east and northeast, and daytime highs will hold in the low to mid-teens. It is the kind of weather that sends people indoors, that makes you grateful for a roof.
What makes this forecast significant is what it marks: the definitive end of September's early heatwave and the arrival of proper autumn. Europe as a whole is expected to experience one final warm spell this weekend, with temperatures climbing to the late 20s on Saturday before the pattern shifts decisively next week. But for Ireland, the transition is already underway. By early next week, conditions will be thoroughly autumnal—cooler, wetter, and more in keeping with what the season typically delivers. Thursday, then, is a threshold. Enjoy the dry day while it lasts.
Notable Quotes
Met Eireann confirmed one final dry day in September as conditions shift from a scorching start to heavier rain and cooler temperatures— Met Eireann weather forecast
Want the full story?
Read the original at RSVP Live ↗
Economy & Finance