Rhode forecaster responds as Evelyn Cusack advises online channels not to issue weather warnings

by Rebekah O'Reilly

Rhode forecaster Cathal Nolan, founder of the popular online forecast service, Ireland's Weather Channel, has responded to a 'pointed' comment by former Met Eireann meteorologist Evelyn Cusack advising online weather experts to 'stop forecasting'.

In an interview with the Irish Independent, published on Sunday, October 19, Cusack said: “Social media forecasters, stop issuing your own warnings.

"A weather warning is an official thing, issued by Met Éireann warning, and the Office of Emergency Planning warning. The Gardaí and the Coast Guard will give the actionable points. You don’t want someone sitting in their front room, issuing warnings.”

In response, Nolan posted to Facebook, commented: "If Met Éireann get their own house in order, we wouldn’t have the need to issue our own weather warnings," he said. "This was a decision we took back at the foundation of Ireland’s Weather Channel to enhance public safety, following a considerable number of sub-standard weather warnings, some of which it could be said were resulting in potentially life threatening situations for the general public."

He described himself as "a qualified weather forecaster and as an award-winning climate scientist", with decades of experience in weather forecasting both in Ireland and abroad.

Ireland's Weather Channel first started in 2013, and was named Offaly Weather, before Cathal expanded its coverage nationwide. The online forecaster has now grown his page to over 129K followers, displaying the desire for alternative weather forecasting options.

Nolan launched a range of innovative services in September of this year, including a subscription service for followers and a personalised forecasting service tailored to business owners and farmers, as well as Ireland’s first storm-chasing vehicle which will allow him to "broadcast live from inside some of the very worst conditions".