The Climate Change Advisory Council has warned that Ireland must be much better prepared for the next major weather event.

The CCAC has called for increased resources to sustain and improve the national climate observation system.

This system includes monitoring of all critical atmospheric, land and ocean variables.

In its 2025 Annual Review, the council has also advised the government to establish a “National Climate Damage Register” to monitor and record the economic, social and environmental impacts of extreme weather events.

The report also highlights the inadequate critical infrastructure exposed by Storm Darragh, and more recently Storm Éowyn.

The Council has said that the 'fingerprints of climate change are increasingly evident in the intensifying magnitude and frequency of certain extreme events, particularly heavy rainfall and heatwaves.'

In a statement the Council said: "2024 was the warmest year globally, ever, and it was the fourth warmest year in Ireland with spring, here, being the sixth wettest on record."

The report noted how "Storms Isha, Bert and Darragh bringing particularly strong winds, high rainfall and significant flood damage in Counties Donegal, Kerry, Cork, Limerick and Galway."

However, it was Storm Éowyn, in January of this year, that set an all-time record with sustained hurricane force winds of 142km per hour which saw 768,000 premises without power, over 200,000 without water, over one million telecom customers without broadband or phone coverage, and widespread agricultural damage.

The Council has said that government must ensure that the funding and legislations is in place to improve the national climate observing system.

Peter Thorne, Chair of the Climate Change Advisory Council’s Adaptation Committee said: “The time to act is now.

"Government cannot procrastinate any longer. Proactive action can and must improve our preparedness for and response to rapidly emerging climate risks, to protect and support people, and future proof our communities.

"This must be underpinned by robust climate data and services.

“The Council has highlighted the inadequacy of Ireland’s approach to address our changing climate over many years, and we have consistently called for investment and legislation to address the vulnerability and lack of resilience within our critical infrastructure and services in coping with extreme climate events.

“If we do not put the structures and resources in place we will increasingly expose people and communities to the destructive effects of extreme weather events, magnifying future costs and risks to society,” he said.