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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Ciaran McGrath & Anita McSorley

Hurricane Danielle could lash Ireland in days as monster weather system brews in Atlantic

Hurricane Danielle is currently hovering in the middle of the Atlantic and could move towards Ireland within days.

Its current path is uncertain with some weather models showing it curving towards Greenland, while others show its remnants heading towards western Europe.

The latter would mean it could blast Ireland with some very wet and windy weather within days.

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Meteorologists are monitoring the ex-hurricane, which has today weakened into a tropical storm.

In an update on Saturday, the National Hurricane Center said: “Danielle Weakens to a Tropical Storm as it Remains Nearly Stationary. Expected to Re-Strengthen a Little During the Next Couple Of Days.”

A Met Office spokesperson told the Express that it’s expected to remain in the Atlantic over the next five days, with “a lot of uncertainty” around its track beyond that.

Grahame Madge said: “Meteorologists will be watching the development of Danielle over the next few days.

"At this lead time there can’t be much certainty about any potential track into the North Atlantic and even less about how it could modify weather patterns nearer to the UK.

“When hurricanes enter the North Atlantic they decay very quickly and their main influence is modifying weather patterns rather than retaining their own identity. If Danielle ventures closer to our shores then her effects could include increased swell.

"The warmth and moisture that ex-hurricanes bring into the Atlantic can modify our own home-grown weather patterns, adding to wind strengths and rainfall.”

Irish weather expert Alan O’Reilly has said its remnants could eventually reach Ireland over the next week.

He posted on his popular Carlow Weather Twitter account: “Tropical Storm #Danielle is expected to become the first hurricane of the season today. Weather models show it slowly moving Northeast but it’s of no concern to Ireland in the coming days. We’ll keep an eye on where the remnants might go though.”

In the meantime, multiple Met Eireann weather warnings have been issued for this weekend.

The country is set to be blasted by thunderstorms, lightning and torrential downpours, which could lead to flooding in parts.

A Status Orange alert for Rain affects Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo and Waterford.

The warning lasts just four hours from 4am until 8am on Sunday and reads: “Local intense rainfall (50mm), and squalls likely.”

A squall is defined as a brief, sudden, violent windstorm, often accompanied by rain or snow.

A separate Status Yellow Rain warning has been issued for the entire country from 1am until 10am Sunday.

It says: “Heavy rain will move northwards across much of the country tonight, clearing from the north and northwest on Sunday morning. Some torrential downpours are expected in parts, resulting in surface flooding. There is also the potential for thunderstorm activity and lightning strikes.”

Both warnings come on top of a nationwide Advisory that is in place until 7pm on Monday, which says: “Wet and windy weather this weekend may cause disruption.”

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