Ireland weather: Heavy rain and thunder ahead as remnants of Hurricane Ernesto set to blast Ireland

Ireland is set for a sustained spell of wet, windy and thundery weather for the best part of the next week as the remnants of Hurricane Ernesto make their presence felt.

After a decent weekend on the weather front, there will be little let up in the wind and rain for the foreseeable future, with Met Éireann pinpointing Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday as days with heavy rain, turning thundery at times, with only a brief respite on Thursday morning.

The inclement weather arrives as the tail end of Hurricane Ernesto makes its way east across the Atlantic, where it has wreaked havoc in the likes of Puerto Rico and Bermuda in recent days.

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Although it will have weakened considerably by the time it makes any impact over here, the forecast shows no signs of calmer weather until next week at the earliest, with Met Eireann saying that “indications are that unsettled conditions will persist” into the coming weekend.

The exact impact of Ernesto is as yet unknown, with weather expert Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather suggesting that it will be downgraded to a storm as it travels east across the Atlantic and that there is a possibility that it will re-intensify as it does so, but not to a hurricane level.

O’Reilly says there is no sign of any “significant” impact and the exact track is not not nailed on as of yet, but the northwest is likely to be most affected from Wednesday evening onwards.

Check out the Met Éireann forecast for the coming days below.

Monday

Turning wet and windy as rain in the west becomes widespread this morning, accompanied by strengthening south to southeast winds, becoming fresh to strong and gusty at times with gales developing along the south and east coasts. There is the potential for some heavy or thundery falls and some coastal flooding especially in parts of the south and east. Drier and brighter weather will extend from the southwest through the afternoon and evening as winds becoming cyclonic variable for a time before moderating westerly. Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees.

A band of showery rain in Atlantic coastal areas at first will track eastwards over the country tonight with some heavy or thundery falls before clearing into the Irish Sea by morning. Scattered showers will follow, mainly affecting the western half of the country. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees in light to moderate west or southwest winds, fresher near coasts.

Tuesday

A breezy day with spells of sunshine and scattered showers, driest in the southeast. Some of the showers may be heavy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms but they will become more isolated later and mostly confined to Atlantic coastal areas. Highest temperatures of 14 to 18 degrees in moderate to fresh and gusty westerly winds, strong at times along northern coasts.

Largely dry with clear spells at first and just isolated showers on Tuesday night, mainly for Atlantic coastal areas. Cloud will build from the west later and towards dawn, rain and drizzle will develop in the northwest. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees in light to moderate west or southwest winds.

Wednesday

Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle becoming widespread through the morning. Southerly winds will strengthen through the day, turning breezy or windy during the evening as winds increase strong or very strong near Atlantic coasts. Highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees.

A wet and windy night with heavier and more persistent rain moving eastwards over the country on Wednesday night, bringing the chance of spot flooding, accompanied by fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds. As the more persistent rain clears from the west, winds will ease westerly, extending over most parts of the country by morning. Mild with temperatures not falling below 12 to 16 degrees.

Thursday

The last of the overnight rain and strong winds will clear from the east of the country early in the morning, becoming largely dry with sunny spells and well scattered showers. Showery outbreaks of rain will then arrive into Atlantic coastal areas later in the evening. Highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees in mostly moderate west or southwest winds.

Friday

Some uncertainty in the details but currently it looks like there will be a spell of heavy rain in the morning, clearing to blustery showers. Highest temperatures of 14 to 18 degrees.

Next Weekend

Indications are that unsettled conditions will persist.

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