‘Supercomputer’ will give more accurate Kilkenny weather forecasts

A new supercomputer will allow Met Éireann to make more accurate weather forecasts and storm predictions for Kilkenny and the rest of the country, the forecaster said.

Head of the Forecasting Division, Eoin Sherlock, said the new technology will provide Met Éireann with a higher resolution view of the weather forecast, leading to better forecasting and warnings.

The first supercomputer is called the Aurora, and the second Borealis. The Aurora will produce the forecast, while the Borealis will conduct the research.

Mr Sherlock told RTÉ: “It will allow us to run our weather model at a higher resolution, so currently it is 2.5 kilometres, and we’re moving up to 2 kilometres, so that’s going to give the weather model a better picture of what lies beneath.”