Strong, gusty winds over the next few days as tail-end of Hurricane Michael could hit Ireland by next week

By Kim O'Leary

The next few days will be considerably stormy with weather experts warning that Ireland may be affected by the tail-end of Hurricane Michael by the middle of next week, while strong winds and rain are set to lash coastal regions on Thursday night in the form of Storm Callum

Met Eireann have revealed a "named storm" could barrel into Ireland on Thursday night as a Status Yellow weather warning remains in place today for coastal areas such as Donegal, Sligo and Mayo this morning with downpours set to lash the west and northwest and there could be some flooding in places.

https://twitter.com/MetEireann/status/1049519557063389185

Meanwhile, weather expert Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather confirmed that we can expect a storm on Thursday night, saying: "Latest charts just rolling out continue to show an intense storm for Thursday night into Friday which could become Storm Callum but the remains of Storm Leslie on this run thankfully heads for Portugal and weakens."

The unsettled weather will continue into the weekend and early next week, and by Tuesday the tail-end of Hurricane Michal may impact the country.

According to Irish Weather Online's Prof. Peter O'Donnell, Hurricane Michael is 'steadily intensifying' over the Gulf of Mexico and Florida and the remnants of the hurricane may approach Ireland on Tuesday.

Professor O'Donnell said:"Some further unsettled weather is likely to follow these significant wind and rain threats, but the latest word on Leslie seems to be a reduced risk of that storm making it to the turn (west of Portugal) in time to join the tail end of these lows, instead it seems more likely to stall around Madeira and perhaps meander for a few more days in that general area. Hurricane Michael is steadily intensifying in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and will hit northwest Florida by Wednesday, then re-emerge into the Atlantic by Thursday. After a bit of a loop or wobble near Newfoundland by Sunday, remnants of Michael may approach Ireland around Tuesday of next week, or at least some of the energy from a dissipated storm may get into the jet stream and be part of the weather pattern affecting Ireland mid-week (in about eight to ten days' time). This will keep the unsettled and rather mild theme going for a few more days and although I see indications of colder weather on charts in two weeks or so, these often back down to a more average sort of outcome but there could be the occasional settled and more pleasant day in the mix once all these features are done with their assaults."

Meanwhile, today will be a cool, blustery day for Co Kildare. Some cloudy, misty weather at times, but some bright or short sunny spells will develop also. Top temperatures 15 to 17 C., generally locally up to 18 C., in any decent sunshine.

Mild, misty and breezy overnight. Most places dry, but some scattered patches of drizzle about also. Lowest temperatures 11 or 12 C. Winds fresh and gusty southeasterly.

On Wednesday, it will be breezy with fresh and gusty southeast winds. But mainly dry, with just scattered patches of mist and drizzle about on exposed hills and coasts early on. The cloud will break in some areas, allowing some sunny spells to come through. Temperatures well above normal, with top values 17 to 19 C., generally, but locally up to 20 C or 21C., in sunshine in the afternoon.