Met Éireann warns Storm Ernesto will bring 'high intensity' rainfall to Limerick

The storm is expected to peak with 45 miles per hour winds before merging with another low pressure system.

Computer models are in general agreement that Invest 99L will move from the open Atlantic and into the eastern and southern Caribbean Sea.

Regardless of development, Invest 99L is likely to bring locally heavy rainfall to portions of the Lesser Antilles during the next few days.

"Formation chance through 48 hours.low.10 percent".

According to the Met Office, Storm Ernesto will no longer be classified as a storm when it arrives in the United Kingdom, as it is expected to have lost some of its power by the time it reaches the country, but it will still bring with it heavy rain and strong winds. The storm is moving toward the north-northeast near 13 miles per hour (20 km/h). "A return to a general westward motion of 280/13 kt is expected to resume shortly".

It was packing winds of around 75 kmph as it moved towards Europe off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, yesterday, according to the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) in Florida. Little change in strength is forecast during the next couple of days.

High intensity rainfall over a relatively short period of time for many areas on Saturday night associated with the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto.

"The estimated minimum central pressure is 1008 mb (29.77 inches)".

Met Office forecaster Bonnie Diamond said: "The north-west, south-east split in the weather will continue and next week there is the potential for some very high temperatures to start developing again in the south-east".