Northern Ireland

Waves batter north coast as tail end of tropical storm arrives

Arrival of remnants of storm have prompted weather warnings across UK and Ireland

The tail end of Hurricane Ernesto teases its way around the north coast of Northern-Ireland at Portstewart in Co-Derry with the next few days expected to bring more gales, heavy rain and high tides. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 20-8-2024
An observer watches the waves as the tail end of Hurricane Ernesto arrived in Portrush, Co Antrim. PICTURE: MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN (MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN PHOTOGRAPHY )
By Harry Stedman, PA

Waves have battered parts of the north as the tail end of Hurricane Ernesto moved across the Atlantic.

Strong winds led to large waves hitting the Promenade area of Portstewart and in neighbouring Portrush on Wednesday.

The weather front is the result of the remains of Hurricane Ernesto, which ripped through Puerto Rico earlier this week after forming in the Caribbean.

Ernesto has since weakened to a tropical storm, and its remnants are expected to mix with humid summer air, leading to weather warnings for parts of Ireland and the UK.

The tail end of Hurricane Ernesto teases its way around the north coast of Northern-Ireland at Portstewart in Co-Derry with the next few days expected to bring more gales, heavy rain and high tides. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 20-8-2024
Waves hitting the Promenade area of Portstewart on Wednesday. PICTURE: MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN (MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN PHOTOGRAPHY )

However, Northern Ireland is due to miss the worst of the expected conditions.

The UK Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for wind and rain for parts of Scotland, north England and north Wales for Wednesday and Thursday.

The tail end of Hurricane Ernesto teases its way around the north coast of Northern-Ireland at Portstewart in Co-Derry with the next few days expected to bring more gales, heavy rain and high tides. Picture Margaret McLaughlin 20-8-2024
Waves hit the north coast on Wednesday. PICTURE: MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN (MARGARET MCLAUGHLIN PHOTOGRAPHY )

Met Éireann, meanwhile, issued a status yellow warning for wind and rain for counties Galway and Mayo, in place for Wednesday and Thursday, while status yellow marine gale warnings are in place for most of the Irish coast.

Met Office spokesperson Jason Kelly said: “While Ernesto itself will have dissipated by the time it reaches the UK, left over warm air and moisture will help to pep up some of the rainfall totals in the northwest in the coming days.