Ireland is set to be hit with a deluge of rain as a hurricane in the Atlantic is expected to swing sharply eastward and pass close to the north of the country.
Hurricane Martin's path shows it is currently heading towards Greenland but it will change course and loop towards Ireland, Iceland and Scotland.
It will pass close to the north of the country on Sunday, the Irish Mirror reports.
However, it will not make landfall in Ireland and its main impact on the local weather will be to bring more rain and moderate winds.
Hurricane Martin currently has maximum sustained winds near 120 km/h, with higher gusts.
It is expected to gradually lose strength from Thursday and through the weekend, but will remain a very large tropical cyclone.
Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather took to Twitter to explain the strange phenomenon.
"Hurricane #Martin in the Atlantic is forecast to head Northeast towards Greenland and weaken but then turn East with the remnants possible passing close to the North of Ireland on Sunday," she wrote.
"No serious impacts expected but sadly more rain!"
Met Eireann has forecast an unsettled weekend with frequent outbreaks of rain or showers, especially for western coastal counties.
Here is a more detailed look at Ireland's weather forecast over the next few days:
Today
Today will see occasional outbreaks of rain or showers, most frequent in the southwest of the country. Some hail and thundery downpours are also possible. There will be bright spells too with the best of the dry intervals in Ulster. Staying quite cool with highs of just 8 to 12 degrees. Variable winds, mainly light to moderate in strength, though it will remain blustery at times near coasts.
Tonight will be mostly clear and dry. Chilly once again with lows of 0 to 5 degrees, milder along Atlantic coasts. Winds easing mainly light northwesterly or variable.
Friday, November 4
Mostly dry with bright spells. Just isolated showers during the day, mainly confined to Ulster. Later in the evening, more persistent outbreaks of rain will begin pushing in to Munster. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in light westerly breezes, later backing southerly.
Friday night will bring heavy outbreaks of rain will extend eastwards across the country, possibly turning thundery in places. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees in southerly winds, increasing mainly moderate.
Saturday, November 5
Saturday will have a dull and damp start with outbreaks of rain gradually clearing eastwards through the morning and afternoon. Sunny spells will then follow with some scattered showers, mainly affecting Atlantic coastal counties. Highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees. Light to moderate southwesterly winds, turning blustery at times near coasts.
A mix of clear spells and scattered showers, most frequent near Atlantic coasts on Saturday night. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees in moderate southerly winds.
Sunday, November 6
A mix of sunny spells and showers, mainly affecting the western half of the country. Highs of 10 to 13 degrees in light to moderate south or southwest winds.
Scattered outbreaks of rain or showers, most frequent in western and southern coastal counties on Sunday night. Minimum temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees. Winds mainly light southerly, though it will be blustery in some coastal areas.
Monday, November 7
Mostly cloudy with showers or more persistent outbreaks of rain, turning heavy in places. Quite breezy with southerly winds increasing moderate to fresh. Highest temperatures of 12 to 14 degrees.
Low pressure is expected to continue dominating our weather through the working week, bringing blustery winds along with frequent outbreaks of rain or showers. Daytime temperatures generally reaching the low or mid teens.
