Met Éireann has issued Status Yellow rain warnings for several counties in Ireland as “spells of rain, heavy at times” are expected to cause localised flooding during the Easter weekend.

The warnings begin tonight (April 17) and run through until Saturday morning, April 19. Met Éireann issued three separate warnings covering southern, western, and southeastern counties.

When and where the Yellow rain warnings apply in Ireland this weekend

• Cork and Kerry: The alert is valid from 11pm Thursday April 17, to 12pm Friday, April 18, with “spells of rain, heavy at times,” that could lead to “localised flooding.”
• Galway and Mayo: A second Status Yellow warning is in place from 6am to 9pm Friday, April 18 mirroring flood risks mentioned above.
• Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Wicklow, and Waterford: A third warning applies from 6am Friday 18 to 6am Saturday 19, with “heavy spells of rain” also expected.

Met Éireann also issued a Small Craft Warning for marine areas from Dungarvan to Roche’s Point to Valentia, with “easterly winds reaching force 6,” valid from 9pm Thursday to midnight Friday.

Thursday and Friday weather this Easter in Ireland

Despite a calm start, “showers will become heavier and more frequent in the afternoon as they move northwards,” Met Éireann said in a forecast update. Rain will develop in the southwest by early evening on Thursday, with temperatures ranging from 9°C to 13°C.

The national forecaster warned that “tonight will be wet and breezy, with showery rain moving northwards across the country,” and “the rain will be heavy at times and may cause localised flooding.” Overnight lows are expected to be 4°C to 8°C.

Saturday and Easter Sunday outlook in Ireland

Saturday will start “cloudy and damp, with further outbreaks of rain,” according to Independent.ie. Some dry spells may appear later in the day, especially in the east. Temperatures are forecast to reach 9°C to 15°C during the day and drop to 5°C to 9°C overnight.

For Easter Sunday, Met Éireann said there is still “some uncertainty”, but “current indications show dry weather in the east with occasional sunny spells, but cloudier weather in the west with rain moving in.” Temperatures will range from 10°C to 14°C during the day and dip to 7°C to 9°C at night.

Easter Monday weather in Ireland

Rain is expected to clear from the northeast by Monday morning, followed by “sunny spells and showers,” according to Met Éireann. Temperatures will rise to a more pleasant 11°C to 14°C.

Will this wet forecast change your Easter plans?

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Michael Schumacher, the legendary Formula 1™ champion and Mallorca resident, made a rare and discreet journey from his Balearic home to Switzerland to celebrate a family milestone: the birth of his first granddaughter, Millie, on March 29.

The 56-year-old ex-pilot, who has lived privately in Mallorca since a devastating 2013 skiing accident, travelled by helicopter in a careful and secret operation, demonstrating his enduring role in the family despite his health challenges.

Millie, daughter of Gina Maria Schumacher and Iain Bethke, brought a wave of hope to the Schumacher family. Gina shared the news on social media with a heartfelt black-and-white image, writing, ‘Welcome to the world, Millie. Our hearts are fuller than ever.’ The visit, reported by German newspaper Bild, allowed Schumacher to be near his daughter before the birth, a poignant moment for a family that has fiercely protected his privacy.

Since the accident, Schumacher’s wife, Corinna, has shielded his medical condition from media scrutiny. Journalist Felix Görner recently described Schumacher as fully dependent, unable to communicate verbally, yet his presence at this event moved fans everywhere. Millie’s arrival symbolises renewal for a family marked by resilience amid adversity, including a recent extortion attempt involving private documents.

Gina, a talented horse rider discreetly residing in the US, is proof of the Schumacher family’s values of dedication and privacy. For Michael Schumacher’s supporters, this is a big step, offering a rare glimpse of hope for the racing star.

In France, the baguette is more than just bread – it’s a cultural icon. Seeing somebody walking down the street clutching a bunch of ten of them while munching on the end of one of them is more of a symbol of France than the stripy-shirted one with onions hanging around his neck.

But on May 1, they may have no choice but to close and leave the French breadless. This Workers Day, a legal quirk threatens this treasured tradition.

French law dictates May 1 as a holiday for all workers, including bakers, unless their work is deemed essential, like surgeons or public transport workers. Bakers don’t qualify, as clarified by a 2006 Court of Cassation ruling, overturning a 1986 exemption. Yet, many bakeries historically opened on May 1, paying employees double. ‘Everyone was happy,’ says Dominique Anract, president of the National Confederation of Bakers.

Baguette bakers may have to shut down for one day

This year, however, the issue gained traction after five Vendée bakeries faced fines in 2024 for opening. Labour inspectors cited the law, imposing €750 fines per employee (€1,500 for minors). The law’s vagueness fuels anger: what about bakeries supplying hospitals or serving as a town’s sole bread source? Anract argues such cases could justify exemptions.

Labour Minister Catherine Vautrin clarified that while bakers, as entrepreneurs, may work, their employees cannot. Still, she supports amending the law to allow voluntary work on May 1, recognising bread’s cultural significance. ‘I can’t imagine closing 34,000 bakeries in the land of bread!’ Anract exclaims.

As May 1 approaches, the French await clarity. Will parliamentary action preserve their daily baguette, or will tradition give in to labour laws? For now, the prospect of a baguette-free day feels unthinkable in France.