Met Éireann to be asked why no Kerry warning was issued before Killarney flash floods
Local officials and business owners in Killarney are demanding an explanation from Met Éireann regarding the lack of weather warnings prior to severe flash flooding on August 27. The town experienced significant property damage, with residents arguing that better forecasting could have mitigated the impact.
Why it matters
The incident raises questions about the reliability of national meteorological services and the necessity of early warning systems in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather.
Flash floods developed rapidly in Killarney on August 27 2026. Picture: Kerry County Council - Comhairle Contae Chiarraí/X
Met Éireann is to be asked to explain why it didn’t provide any weather warnings for Kerry ahead of “biblical” flash floods that tore through Killarney.
A red weather warning event happens when at least 50mm of rain falls over a six-hour period, but it is understood that Killarney was hit with 57mm in just four hours.
Mayor of Killarney John O’Donoghue said the town somehow “dodged a bullet” because everyone “rallied around” to deal with the aftermath of the flash floods.
He also praised Kerry County Council staff for taking quick measures to ease the impact on businesses and property owners.
“What happened was biblical and unprecedented," he said.
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