HURRICANE HELENE will hit Ireland in the 'form of heavy rainfall and gales', Met Eireann has confirmed.
The Irish weather forecast is predicting "very disturbed weather" over the coming week, though was keen to stress that Helene would not be as strong as Ophelia.
One of several tropical storms currently over the Atlantic, Hurricane Helene is unlikely to have the kind of impact Hurricane Florence is having in the US.
Florence’s arrival has already sparked mass evacuations across North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
According to the UK Met Office, Helene is projected to head east towards the south-western corners of the UK. The tip of Ireland could be among the worst affected areas.
Increased winds are expected to become more noticeable from Tuesday, September 18th, onwards.
Showery rain in the west and north will spread to all parts this morning. A few heavy bursts are likely, especially in the north. It will become drier in the afternoon and some sunshine will break through. Highest temperatures of 14 to 18 degrees. pic.twitter.com/BS7r1HkVlI
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) September 14, 2018
Speaking to RTE Radio One’s News at One, Dr. John Sweeney is Emeritus Professor of Geography at the National University of Ireland echoed these predictions
"It will get caught up in jet streams and low-pressure streams, it will probably reach us in the form of heavy rainfall, maybe gales," he said.
"But it will be no repeat of Ophelia."
These latest developments come after Met Éireann released the Irish storm names for the year ahead this week.
Saoirse, Bronagh, Idris and Gareth all feature on the list of 21.
The names were compiled from suggestions submitted by the public and as in previous years, monikers beginning with the less common letters Q, U, X, Y and X will not be used.
