When is the worst of Storm Helene set to arrive in NI? 🌧️☔💦
Met Office downgrades yellow weather warning
Last updated 17th Sep 2018
Batten down the hatches... we're in for an unsettled few days weather-wise.
Tonight, the remnants of ex-Hurricane Helene will affect Irish sea coasts.
The Met Office has just downgraded its yellow wind warning for Northern Ireland, but we can still expect 35-45 mph gusts and heavy rain this evening.
Storm Helene could impact travel plans to and from the UK mainland on Tuesday.
"Road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible. Some roads and bridges may close. Fallen trees may be an additional hazard."
Forecasters are predicting an unsettled week ahead, as Storm Helene clears, another deep area of low pressure is due to arrive, with the potential for further disruptive wind and rain on Wednesday.
The Met Office has re-issued a Northern Ireland wide yellow wind warning from 06:00 to 22:00 for gusts of 50-60 mph.
NORTHERN IRELAND FIVE DAY FORECAST
Monday - Bright spells before rain returns later, turning heavy overnight with strengthening winds. Feeling mild with highs of 18-20 °C.
Tuesday - Wet start, then becoming brighter with sunny intervals and scattered showers in the afternoon. Highs of 17-19 °C.
Wednesday - A very unsettled day with heavy rain and gale force winds, turning cooler. Highs of 13-15 °C. (MET OFFICE YELLOW WARNING IN FORCE)
Thursday - Scattered showers. Highs of 12-14 °C.
Friday - Bright day with sunny spells. Highs of 12-14 °C.
STORM NAMES FOR THE 2018/2019 SEASON
Last week, the Met Office and Met Éireann unvealed a list of the names of this seasons storms.
First introduced in 2015, this is the fourth year they have jointly run the ‘Name our Storms’ scheme, aimed at raising awareness of severe weather before it hits.
The first storm will be ‘male’ and named Ali, while the second storm will be ‘female’ and named Bronagh, following the alternating male/female pattern established by the US National Hurricane Center in the 1970s.