The old saying “Red sky in the morning, shepherds’ warning” proved accurate in Dublin today as a vivid sunrise gave way to heavy rain and strong winds sweeping across the country.

A striking dawn over Dublin Bay was captured on a live webcam from Dublin Port, showing warm red tones over the Poolbeg Towers and the bay before conditions deteriorated.

Social media users took to X to share their sunrise videos and photographs from Dublin (see below).

By afternoon, gusts of up to 94 km/h were recorded at Mace Head in Galway, with 90 km/h at Sherkin Island and Roches Point in Cork. Valentia in Kerry reported 19mm of rain by 3pm.

There is real science behind the centuries-old rhyme. A red sky occurs when sunlight passes through a high concentration of dust or moisture particles near the horizon. When seen in the morning, it often signals that an approaching weather front is moving in from the west while the rising sun illuminates it from the east.

Because Ireland’s weather systems typically travel west to east, a red morning sky can indeed indicate incoming rain or wind. A red sunset, on the other hand, usually suggests clearing conditions.