Schools across Donegal will play a key role in a $5 million Google initiative to improve weather forecasting.
The project, being launched this morning by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, will use artificial intelligence to help provide earlier warnings of storms and flash flooding.
560 solar-powered weather stations will be installed in schools across all 26 counties.
They’ll measure rainfall, wind and temperatures every minute, creating a nationwide network of real-time weather information.
Researchers at UCD and Met Éireann will combine the readings with 70 years of Irish weather records and Google’s AI technology.
The aim is to develop more accurate, localised forecasts.
€2.25 million has been allocated to the first phase, with the remaining funding earmarked for future projects.
