Met Eireann issues weather warning over Hurricane Ophelia

Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow national weather warning for the development of Hurricane Ophelia that is set to pass close to Ireland on Monday.

"A combination of a vigorous Atlantic weather system and the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia will pass close to Ireland on Monday, and has the potential to be a high-impact event in parts of the country," stated Met Eireann.

"There is a lot of uncertainty as to the exact evolution and movement of this weather system during the coming four days, but storm-force winds, outbreaks of heavy rain, and very high seas are threatened," said the national meteorlogical service.

"Met Eireann will maintain a close watch on the evolution and issue further advisories and warnings as these are warranted."

The warning is valid from today, Thursday 12 October at 2pm, to Tuesday 17 October 6am.

There is potential for wind gusts of 120 to 180 km/hr depicted on weather models this morning affecting large parts of Munster and Connacht, and west Ulster. For Leinster and central to east Ulster, potential gusts would be 100 to 130 km/hr.

Ahead of this storm, temperatures will remain unusually warm for this time of year, with highs of 18 to 19 degrees Celcius forecast for today.

Saturday will see light rain gradually clearing to hazy sunshine and warm temperatures of 18 to 22 C, while Sunday will bring intervals of light rain and further south it will stay very warm with highs 18 to 21 C.

On Monday, while the exact path of extropical storm Opehelia has to be confirmed, it will bring bursts of heavy rain with rapidly increasing south-southeast gales to storm force winds, perhaps 10 to 20 mm rain for many, severe damaging gusts from south to southwest by mid-day, potentially 120 to 180 km/hr west, 100 to 130 km/hr east, and rapid clearing for some parts of the south.

Stormy conditions will slowly ease by late afternoon or evening in the south and late overnight in the north.