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'There have been too many yellow warnings': Met Éireann says it will issue fewer yellow warnings

Met Éireann said the warnings are useful for some people, but for the rest of the population, a yellow warning just means “it’s a soft day”.

MET ÉIREANN HAS today said it will be issuing fewer yellow weather warnings in response to “warning fatigue” among the public. 

The change of approach was announced today by Met Éireann’s new head of forecasting, Eoin Sherlock at the launch of the Government’s annual ‘Be Winter Ready’ information campaign. 

Sherlock, who has taken over from Evelyn Cusack following her retirement in June, said that Met Éireann is “cognisant of the fact that there have been too many yellow warnings”.

“In terms of warnings, I’ve heard the term ‘warning fatigue’. From our perspective we issue warnings based on thresholds,” Sherlock said. 

He explained that Met Éireann has looked at the thresholds for warnings and said that with yellow warnings the organisation will be increasing the threshold for windspeed.

“Perhaps for low temperatures they won’t be as prevalent as they are now,” he said.

Sherlock said the warnings are useful for some people, but for the rest of the population, a yellow warning just means “it’s a soft day”.

“If you are a painter or decorater, a yellow warning means you mightn’t be able to do work that day, so it is important for them,” he said.

“But it also helps with the state’s response to extreme weather. We issue these warnings…and that triggers things to happen in the local authorities,” he added.

Sherlock said going forward it will be important for the public to take and act on information from Met Éireann, such as when a storm is named. 

“If you know a storm has been named, that’s serious weather. It means you take care,” he said.

“But that’s kind of what we are trying to do, minimise the amount of yellows we do and also keep it going because this is how the state manages extreme weather,” he added.

This week, Ireland braced for Storm Babet with a status orange rain warning issued for a number of counties.

Heavy downpours and blustery winds resulted in flooding in Cork yesterday, with flood barriers erected in Mallow and Fermoy as the water began to rise over the banks of the River Blackwater.

Today, flooding continues in southern coastal counties with counties Cork and Kerry under status orange rain warnings until 1pm today.

Yellow warnings remain in place for the rest of the country.

Met Éireann’s colour coding system has been used for over a decade, but though it sounds simple it’s often not that straightforward.

The Journal previously spoke to former-head forecaster Evelyn Cusack who talked us through just how the warnings work.

Be Winter Ready Campaign

The Government today launched its ‘Be Winter Ready’ information campaign which encourages people to prepare for the challenges of winter. 

This year’s campaign is focused on road safety following an increase in road deaths this year. 

Speaking at today’s launch, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the campaign is an opportunity for individuals and households to “take stock of the risks that winter can sometimes inflict, and to check on older relatives and neighbours when we experience weather extremes this winter”.

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    Mute Sat Singh
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    Sep 7th 2014, 8:26 AM

    The last one is the new library on Broad Street Birmingham City Centre.

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    Mute Malvolio32
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    Sep 7th 2014, 8:34 AM

    You can see the parts of the world where the most ambitious building projects are happening today are not Europe or the US. Obviously connected to economics, but also national self confidence?

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    Mute Darragh mc kenna
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    Sep 7th 2014, 9:15 AM

    Scandinavia still has a few ambitious building projects.

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    Mute Malvolio32
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    Sep 7th 2014, 10:52 AM

    Maybe one/two but bulk seem to be Australasia and emerging economies

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    Mute E=MC2
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    Sep 7th 2014, 8:18 AM

    Is there a single modern Irish building worthy of a postcard? The only structure that comes to mind is the Harp Bridge in Dublin. The proposed new Liberty Hall / ESB head office must tie for joint last place on any awards list.

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    Mute Michael Church
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    Sep 7th 2014, 8:31 AM

    The criminal courts on Parkgate street is a pretty class building.

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    Mute Stephen
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    Sep 7th 2014, 8:38 AM

    The new Dun Laoghaire library

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    Mute Ablitive
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    Sep 7th 2014, 8:48 AM

    The new Dun Laoghaire library is not original….

    …. it is a copy oft the Norwegian Doomsday seed vault.

    http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/02/photogalleries/seedvault-pictures/

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    Mute Philip
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    Sep 7th 2014, 8:53 AM

    Music and Dance building in UL Limerick!

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    Mute Mike Clinton
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    Sep 7th 2014, 9:03 AM

    The Irish lights HQ in Dun Laoghaire looks great.

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    Mute Niall o' Sullivan
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    Sep 7th 2014, 10:27 AM

    My vote would go the Hong Kong, The UK space building looks like total shite.

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    Mute Proinsias Ó Foghlú
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    Sep 7th 2014, 10:51 AM

    Would our enlightened planners allow any of these to be built? Did I just enlightened and planner, bit of an oxymoron!

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    Mute ken walsh
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    Sep 7th 2014, 9:17 AM

    The National Lifeguard Training Centre in Tramore will be class when finished.

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    Mute Mindfulirish
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    Sep 7th 2014, 10:22 AM

    Why does RTE stay quiet on the Library building in Dun Laghoire. ?? Nothing reported.

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    Mute Deborah Behan
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    Sep 7th 2014, 12:49 PM

    The first building is breath taking.

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    Mute Kissmyartichoke
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    Sep 7th 2014, 1:33 PM

    Wow there must be money in Buddhism, fab building

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    Mute Martin Meyler
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    Sep 7th 2014, 1:43 PM

    Seriously…check out the Mexican house…looks a bit Frank Lloyd Wright…there’s a figure of a girl beside the road on the left, in exactly the same position as Christine Olsen in ‘Christina’s World’ by Andrew Wyeth. Might even be photoshopped in, I suppose.

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