Flood forecasters (Hydro-meteororlogists) in the Met Éireann Flood Forecasting Centre work routinely Monday to Friday with additional attendance at weekends when there is any potential risk of flooding identified.
The duty hydro-meteorologist liaises frequently with the rest of the forecasting team in Met Éireann and there is a routine scheduled briefing daily with the on-duty hydro-meteorologist, the on-duty forecast meteorologist and other colleagues. These meetings provide a forum to discuss the flood and weather outlook for the coming days and key forecast messages to be included Met Éireann’s weather and warning products. These are internal Met Éireann meetings but on occasion are attended by representatives from the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM).
Internal Met Éireann briefing meetings between hydro-meteorologists and forecast meteorologists are not routinely recorded; hence, no minutes or notes are available.
Briefing meetings between the on-duty hydro-meteorologists and the on-duty forecast meteorologist took place on Tuesday and Wednesday, 17 and 18 October 2023 at 10.00 each day. Additionally, as the hydro-meteorologists and meteorologists on duty were working in the same office there was ongoing liaison throughout both days.
Given the nature of these internal meetings as a discussion forum, there are no official notes or minutes of the meetings between Weather and Flood Forecasters held on Tuesday and Wednesday the 17 and 18 October.
Met Éireann’s warnings and forecast products are made publicly available on its website www.met.ie and include mention of flooding impacts when appropriate. Flood risk advice is also shared with the local authorities and NDFEM.
