ALERT: Irish weather forecast for coming week is in as Hurricane Ernesto remnants hit

Monday morning update as heavy rain moves in and a look at the rest of the week with the remnants of Hurrican Ernesto heading our way.

Monday: Turning wet and windy as rain in the west becomes widespread this morning, accompanied by strengthening south to southeast winds, becoming fresh to strong and gusty at times with gales developing along the south and east coasts.

There is the potential for some heavy or thundery falls and some coastal flooding especially in parts of the south and east.

Drier and brighter weather will extend from the southwest through the afternoon and evening as winds becoming cyclonic variable for a time before moderating westerly.

Highest temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees.

A band of showery rain in Atlantic coastal areas at first will track eastwards over the country on Monday night with some heavy or thundery falls before clearing into the Irish Sea by morning.

Scattered showers will follow, mainly affecting the western half of the country. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees in light to moderate west or southwest winds, fresher near coasts.

Tuesday: A breezy day with spells of sunshine and scattered showers, driest in the southeast.

Some of the showers may be heavy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms but they will become more isolated later and mostly confined to Atlantic coastal areas.

Highest temperatures of 14 to 18 degrees in moderate to fresh and gusty westerly winds, strong at times along northern coasts.

OVERVIEW: Mostly unsettled with spells of rain and showers. Breezy or windy at times too.

Tuesday night: Largely dry with clear spells at first and just isolated showers, mainly for Atlantic coastal areas. Cloud will build from the west later and towards dawn, rain and drizzle will develop in the northwest. Lowest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees in light to moderate west or southwest winds.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle becoming widespread through the morning.

Southerly winds will strengthen through the day, turning breezy or windy during the evening as winds increase strong or very strong near Atlantic coasts. Highest temperatures of 15 to 19 degrees

Wednesday night: A wet and windy night with heavier and more persistent rain moving eastwards over the country, bringing the chance of spot flooding, accompanied by fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds.

As the more persistent rain clears from the west, winds will ease westerly, extending over most parts of the country by morning. Mild with temperatures not falling below 12 to 16 degrees.

Thursday: The last of the overnight rain and strong winds will clear from the east of the country early in the morning, becoming largely dry with sunny spells and well scattered showers. Showery outbreaks of rain will then arrive into Atlantic coastal areas later in the evening. Highest temperatures of 16 to 20 degrees in mostly moderate west or southwest winds.

Friday: Some uncertainty in the details but currently it looks like there will be a spell of heavy rain in the morning, clearing to blustery showers. Highest temperatures of 14 to 18 degrees.

Next Weekend: Indications are that unsettled conditions will persist.