Queries about how storms can recognise county boundaries, accusations of panic in forecasts, and claims of Dublin bias were among the complaints made to Met Éireann about coverage of Storm Eunice, which battered Ireland earlier this year.
The storm left 80,000 homes without power, brought gusts of over 100 miles an hour off the south coast, and more than two dozen complaints to the meteorology service.
One viewer was mystified as to how Galway was expected to avoid the worst of the weather in February even as severe warnings were in place for neighbouring counties.
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They wrote: “There must be very understandable and scientific reasons that Storm Eunice knows the borders of Clare, Mayo, and Roscommon … I’m glad she is recognising these and staying totally away from Galway.”
Another also emailed about the City of the Tribe’s predicted escape from the worst of the weather.
“How is this storm just avoiding Galway?” they said, “our surrounding counties are closed but this storm is just going to blow over [us]. There is a red warning for the sea [all] around Galway but still [it] won’t reach us. Please explain this.”
Residents of Limerick were also perplexed at how their county seemed to get ignored in the midst of warnings for Cork, Kerry, and Clare.
They said: “We feel the brunt of the storm every time. Storm Barra did considerable damage and we were not issued with a red warning.
“Can you please reconsider your warnings? There is not much difference between Clare and Limerick, especially given where we live.”
Others complained about delays in updating weather forecasts with one saying a twelve-hour delay was a “serious dereliction of service”.
One person was not impressed with all the warnings saying Met Éireann seemed to be overstating the risk of various storms.
They said: “I’m concerned that [you are] being overly cautious with weather colour warnings and maybe panicking by increasing these as storms approach and media coverage increases.
“Dublin parks are closed this morning and not a leaf is blowing on a tree here. No branches fell and it was a non-event. How was this orange [warning] for Dublin?”
Viewers and listeners also griped about the timing of forecasts with one saying weather conditions had been far worse on a day when they were supposed to be easing.
One wrote: “We should have had a red warning for this morning not 'strong winds and rain' .... what’s going on there ... this is a disturbing weather event here in Ballyvourney, Co cork … nota bene ... not near any coast.”
A resident of Donegal also quibbled over why there was no red warning there with trees down, electricity outages, and reports of waves of up to 45 foot.
In Co Mayo, it was a similar story with Met Éireann accused of providing the “wrong forecast again”.
“Schools were closed in Mayo last Friday and weather was lovely,” they said.
“But today was horrendous windy, trees down but not a word on last night’s weather. It only said heavy rain and 10 degrees.”
There were multiple other complaints as well about Storm Franklin, which followed shortly after Storm Eunice, and in parts of Ireland ended up proving more severe.
One wrote: “Only this morning have we been informed that Storm Franklin is hitting the country and a status orange warning accompanying it.
“Today (Sunday) is a far worse day than Friday was and we have been very poorly served by the advice Met Éireann gave.”
Another complained of what they described as “Dublin-centric forecasting” saying it was of no help to those living outside the capital.
“You NEVER get it right for Athlone in Co. Westmeath. A little warning for last Saturday night would have been appreciated. The wind was far worse in the midlands than during Eunice, and there was no warning at all.”
Asked about the records, Met Éireann did not respond with a comment.
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