Weather Warnings and Advisories – Friday 23 October 2026
- A Status Yellow Rain warning is in place for Galway and is valid from 04:00 Saturday 24/10/2026 to 15:00 Saturday 24/10/2026.
- A Status Orange Wind warning is in place for Galway and is valid from 14:00 Saturday 24/10/2026 to 09:00 Sunday 25/10/2026.
- A High Tide Advisory has also been issued for the coasts of Galway and is valid from 15:00 Saturday 24/10/2026 to 07:00 Sunday 25/10/2026.
Galway City Council advises that:
- Toft Car Park, Salthill will be closed to the public from Friday 23rd October until further notice.
- Silverstrand Road and car park will be closed to the public on Saturday 24th October until further notice.
- Salthill Carpark will be closed to the public on Saturday 24th October until further notice.
- Ballyloughane Beach Road is for local access only from Saturday 24th October until further notice.
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Merlin Woods and Barna Woods will be closed to the public on Saturday 24th October until further notice. All facilities in Merlin Woods are closed to the public, including the public footpaths, Merlin Allotments, the Community Garden and GCC containers in use by community groups. These areas will remain closed until a safety assessment has been completed post the storm.
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A section of the Rosshill Road from Old Dublin Road to Ross Allta housing estate adjacent to the wooded area is closed off to the public on Saturday 24th October until further notice.
- Galway City Museum will be closed to the public from 1pm on Saturday 24th October until further notice.
Crews will be on site monitoring weather conditions and road closures may need to be implemented if required.
The Flood Barrier is in place at Spanish Arch.
Sandbags
Sandbags will be available for the public from Saturday 24 October at the following locations:
- Adjacent to Salthill Aquarium.
- Claddagh Hall.
- Fire Station on Fr Griffin Road.
- Spanish Arch.
- New Dock Street.
- Entrance to Mutton Island Causeway.
Storm Boelo Key Messages
- Storm Boelo will bring Gale force westerly winds with severe and damaging gusts and spells of Heavy Rain.
- Heavy rain will fall on saturated ground, with surface water and river flooding likely in the West and Southwest. Trees are still in full leaf and are highly vulnerable to strong winds, putting them at an elevated risk of falling, particularly in woodland areas.
- Strong onshore winds, high tides, surge and large waves may cause overtopping and coastal flooding in the West and Northwest, Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning.
- High sea levels may slow river discharge, raising flood risk
Storm Boelo Potential Impacts
- Difficult travelling conditions.
- Localised flooding possible.
- Damage to already weakened structures.
- Damage to power lines, power outages.
- Disruption and delays to public transport likely.
- Fallen trees.
- Large coastal waves and coastal flooding.
- Loose objects displaced.
- Dangerous conditions at sea.
Public Safety Messaging
- Secure any loose outdoor items such as bins, garden furniture, trampolines and temporary structures.
- Stay informed through Met Éireann and local authority channels and adjust your travel plans if necessary.
- Motorists should be alert for fallen trees, debris and difficult driving conditions.
- Never attempt to drive through flooded roads.
- Allow extra time for essential travel.
- Expect surface water, debris and poor visibility.
- Do not bypass Road Closed signs – the road ahead is unsafe, the damage may be hidden beneath water, and you may be putting your life at risk.
- Do not drive through floodwater – turn back and use another route.
- Check with transport operators when planning journeys.
- Stay back from riverbanks, streams and canals – water levels may rise quickly.
- Keep children and pets away from waterways and flooded areas.
- The high winds could also cause hazards around coastal edges, and the Irish Coast Guard advice is clear: ‘Stay Back, Stay High, Stay Dry.’
- Monitor Met Éireann forecasts and/or visit Met Éireann - The Irish Meteorological Service for the most up to date information. Information is available across social media platforms and other news media sources.
- ESB Networks is highlighting the dangers posed by fallen live wires and is advising the public and the emergency services to stay away from these fallen cables and to report such cases to it immediately. ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1800 372 999. The public can monitor www.PowerCheck.ie in relation to power restoration times.