Ireland weather update as Storm Ophelia 2.0 is named amid brutal forecast

Almost exactly six years on from Hurricane Ophelia ripping through Ireland causing huge damage and loss of life, a storm of the same name could impact us next week.

Dubbed Storm Ophelia 2.0 by Weather Alerts Ireland, the system has been named by the NOAA in America and its remnants could affect our weather next week.

The storm is currently tracking towards East USA and would weaken considerably crossing the Atlantic if it was to impact Ireland. The system could bring cold and miserable conditions to Ireland, according to one forecaster.

"This Ophelia is very different to the Ophelia we had before but its strange that is has the same name," Weather Alerts Ireland said.

"The ICON model is also forecasting this strong system to impact Ireland," they added.

However, speaking about the same storm, Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather said: "Thankfully this Ophelia is not likely to become a hurricane or head for Ireland but could bring flooding to parts of East USA."

Weather models do show some wet and windy conditions arriving in Ireland next week.

In its latest outlook for the coming days, Met Éireann said it will remain "unsettled owing to a mobile Atlantic regime."

They have not given a forecast beyond next Tuesday which they say will "be a wet day with heavy spells of rain, later clearing to sunny spells and well scattered showers."

They do, however, temper that forecast by saying there is "some uncertainty" in the forecast.

Between now and then, Met Éireann says the weekend will turn colder with Saturday morning feeling "chilly" but "largely dry with spells of hazy sunshine."

They added: "However, early brightness will be replaced by cloudier skies as outbreaks of rain and drizzle gradually move up from the southwest of the country, heaviest later. Highest afternoon temperatures of 11 to 16 degrees (north to south) with mostly fresh and gusty south to southeast winds."

They say Saturday night will be "wet at first with the possibility of further falls of rain later, especially in the south. Lowest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in moderate to fresh southerly winds."

On Sunday, "scattered outbreaks of rain will become more widespread and persistent with some very heavy falls, leading to localised flooding. Blustery too in fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds with highest temperatures of 17 to 19 degrees. Becoming drier overnight, though some showers will feed in later off the Atlantic.

"Some sunny spells but with passing blustery showers too [on Monday], most frequent closer to the Atlantic. Highest temperatures of 16 to 19 degrees in fresh and gusty southwest winds."