Anticipated arrival of Hurricane Erin's leftovers, promising wetter and windier weather next week.
The North Atlantic is currently home to Hurricane Erin, a weather disturbance that is expected to bring changes to both the eastern seaboard of the US and Ireland.
Residents of The Outer Banks, a string of barrier islands off North Carolina, are bracing for high winds. Several beaches have been closed due to life-threatening rip currents as the hurricane approaches.
In contrast, Ireland is not expected to face severe weather due to Hurricane Erin. However, the storm is forecast to bring "wet and breezier weather" to the country towards the end of the week.
Friday in Ireland is expected to be mainly dry with spells of sunshine. Some isolated showers are possible towards Atlantic coasts. However, by the weekend, the weather will be mostly cloudy and wetter compared to Thursday and Friday. Sunday is expected to be cloudier with more showers and rain arriving into the southwest of the country.
The high pressure dominating Ireland is expected to break on Thursday, with the day predicted to be mostly dry with a few light showers, and highest temperatures of 17 to 22 degrees. Mist and foggy patches are set to develop in the west on Thursday night.
The temperatures for the rest of the week will remain in the high teens to low 20s until Monday. A mix of sun and scattered showers is forecast for the weekend.
According to forecaster Aoife Kealy, the hurricane is creating "some uncertainty" for conditions from Tuesday. By the time Erin reaches Ireland, the ex-hurricane would likely cause "more in the way of rainfall" and bring slightly windier conditions.
Meanwhile, along the eastern seaboard of the US, Hurricane Erin is expected to result in very strong winds, which will be dangerous along coasts. The storm's force is expected to weaken as it crosses the Atlantic.
The extent of the weather disturbance caused by Hurricane Erin in Ireland will be determined by the evolving low-pressure system (extratropical cyclone) associated with Erin and the resulting atmospheric pressure patterns over Europe, which are currently unpredictable. Meteorological authorities and forecasting models will assess the impact as the storm develops.
In summary, while The Outer Banks is bracing for strong winds and dangerous conditions, Ireland is expected to experience a change from the largely dry and settled weather, with wetter and breezier conditions expected towards the end of the week.
