County-based weather warning alerts will be replaced with a new localised system, Met Éireann has confirmed.

This decision by the national forecaster will give more precise warnings and guidance to local communities.

Met Éireann are developing a polygon-based system that will divide the country in sub-county zones, allowing warnings to be issued for specific areas rather than entire counties.

The changes come after calls to adapt the system to be more accurate for local communities.

Met Éireann has come under criticism in recent months following increased rainfall and heavy winds devastating communities across the country.

Many towns and villages felt the warnings did not adequately prepare them.

In the aftermath of Storm Chandra, Cathal Nolan of Ireland’s Weather Channel advocated for the range of weather warnings to be reduced.

Choosing county Cork as an example, Mr Nolan highlighted that weather conditions between West Cork and North Cork could be vastly different due to the distance between them.

He believes that weather warnings should more accurately reflect the difference in conditions.

The forecaster announced the proposed changes to the weather warning system in reply to a Parliamentary Question by Laois TD Willie Aird (FG), who said that the current system is too broad for Ireland’s varied landscape and island conditions.

‘People do not live their lives by county borders,’ Deputy Aird said. ‘Weather does not respect them either.’