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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Marisa Mackle

Irish weather forecaster Evelyn Cusack retires after 42 years

One of Ireland's best-loved weather forecasters retires today after 42 years.

Evelyn Cusack from Laois, who spent 30 years presenting the weather on RTÉ, predicts the next weather revolution will be based on Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Back in 1981, when Evelyn started her weather career, there were no satellites or internet and she says now weather forecasting has "changed utterly and for the better".

READ MORE - Met Eireann forecaster Evelyn Cusack hits back at complaints over 'biased' weather reports

She told RTE: "We used to get charts on electrostatic paper, and it would take half an hour for a few charts to come in."

Evelyn was promoted to head of forecasting in 2017 - the year a series of memorable storms hit, including Storm Ophelia, Storm Emma and the Beast from the East.

"I had my annus horribilis of weather.

"So, then I was looking forward to a nice summer and we did get a nice summer. In fact, it was so nice there was a drought.

"And then Bray started to go on fire, and we were in the NECG (National Emergency Coordination Group) again because there was a water shortage.

"So, then I thought that's it. But there was one more sting in the tail."

Evelyn Cusack, Met Eireann (Gareth Chaney/Collins)

The presenter recalls a yellow wind warning in place during the Ploughman’s Championship that September.

"I looked and thought oh, around 80-90km/h winds, a huge, tented village and 100,000 people," she said.

"It was a huge deal then ... It seemed like an enormous thing to do. I mean, I closed it down.

"But then, thankfully, just professionally for me, the winds whipped up and everything was flattened.

"Obviously you don't want anyone hurt or houses knocked down, but you want your forecast to be right and to be able to give enough notice that people can take action."

Met Éireann is launching a new element to its weather app, giving 10-day forecasts for mountains and hills as Evelyn looks forward to her retirement.

"I'm really grateful to have been working this long and to feel so well and healthy."

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