London (CNN) Warnings of flash flooding and dangerous high winds have been issued in Europe as remnants of the record-breaking Hurricane Lorenzo approach the continent.

Over the weekend Lorenzo -- the strongest storm ever recorded so far north and east in the Atlantic, according to the US National Hurricane Center (NHC) -- strengthened to a Category 5, smashing several records along the way.

It has since been downgraded to a Category 2. According to the UK's meteorological office, however, Lorenzo is expected to maintain winds of 105mph as it passes close to the Azores on Tuesday and Wednesday. This will make it the first hurricane to track through the mid-Atlantic archipelago since 2012.

Wave heights in western Ireland are expected to reach 40 feet on Thursday and Friday.

The Irish government convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday with the Irish meteorological service reporting that there was a "high probability" that Lorenzo would track close or over the country on Thursday and Friday, "giving high seas, severe winds and heavy rain."

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