Deadly Ophelia blasts into Ireland with 100-mph winds
Former-hurricane Ophelia has blasted into Ireland with winds over 100 mph. So far the storm has killed three people and knocked out power to over 360,000 customers. It's a fitting end (hopefully??) to the crazy Atlantic hurricane season that is 2017. More updates are available in our live story. Here's what it looked like on satellite this morning:
The damage has been extensive in Ireland, with roofs ripped off and trees downed. Here's just one example from Twitter:
Technically, Ophelia was no longer a hurricane when it made landfall. The U.S. NHC had discontinued advisories on the storm at 11 last night, and at that time described it as a "hurricane-force post-tropical cyclone." Only one hurricane has ever hit Ireland, according to NHC records -- Debbie in 1961.
The winds gusts have been impressive and have exceeded our forecast:
(NOTE: There has also been a gust to 191 km/h (118 mph) at Fastnet Rock, near Cape Clear Island, but the anemometer was sited at 200 feet; normal siting is 30 feet.) Outside of that, the 156 km/h (97 mph) at Roches Point, Ireland is the highest gust reported.
The last update by the NHC last night looked like this. I don't believe I've ever seen the "H" (Hurricane-Force) symbol in Europe before.
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