Ophelia to slam Ireland and UK with destructive winds, dangerous seas into Tuesday

Ophelia will unleash destructive winds across Ireland and parts of the United Kingdom into Tuesday.

Despite Ophelia no longer being classified as a hurricane, residents should not let their guard down as it will still be a powerful and dangerous windstorm.

On Saturday, Ophelia strengthened to a Category 3 hurricane before weakening and losing its tropical characteristics on Sunday.

Ophelia will track across western Ireland and into western and northern Scotland before racing into the North Sea on Tuesday.

Wind gusts of 130 to 145 km/h (80 to 90 mph) may cause power cuts and significant travel disruptions throughout southern Ireland. Wind gusts of 96 to 129 km/h (60 to 80 mph) are expected to sweep across a large portion of Ireland, Northern Ireland, southern Scotland, western Wales and northwest England.

"There is likely to be local wind gusts over 80 mph (129 km/h) across the high terrain of southwest Scotland and coastal regions of the Irish Sea and gusts to 100 mph (161 km/h) can’t be ruled out," AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys said.

Cork and Waterford are communities in southern Ireland that are expected to experience some of the strongest winds. As of early Monday afternoon peak wind gusts had reached 86 mph (139 km/h) in the Cork area.

Travel by road, rail and air will be impacted along with the potential for disruption or closure of ferry services. Dangerous crosswinds threaten to overturn high-sided vehicles.

Schools and universities were closed on Monday across Ireland in advance of Ophelia.

The strongest winds will impact Ireland through Monday afternoon before diminishing Monday night.

"Scotland, Wales, Northern England and the Midlands will receive their strongest winds from Monday night into early Tuesday," added Roys.

"Ophelia could bring one of the most destructive wind events in years to Ireland," AccuWeather Hurricane Expert Dan Kottlowski said.

Kottlowski warns that Ophelia may be worse than a more typical windstorm that blows in from the Atlantic.

"Winds within a storm that was once a hurricane and lost its tropical characteristics are often more concentrated and can create sting jets," he said. Sting jets are small areas of stronger winds that can cause severe damage.

Also, typical windstorms bring the strongest wind to the western and northern coasts.

Ophelia will bring the strongest winds to southern coastlines. As a result, damage in these areas could be worse than with a typical windstorm.

The powerful winds will also churn up dangerous seas across the Atlantic, as well as in the Celtic and Irish seas into Monday night. Seas are expected to exceed 10 meters (34 feet) in the Celtic Sea and 5 meters (18 feet) in the Irish Sea.

Boaters who attempt to enter these waters will put their lives in danger.

The heaviest rainfall is expected across western Ireland, Northern Ireland and western Scotland where downpours can total 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) into Tuesday.

Blustery showers are also expected throughout South West England, Wales and Northern England, but flooding is not expected in these areas.

Greater London and South East England will dodge the worst of Ophelia with wind gusts peaking near 30 mph (48 km/h) and little or no rainfall.

On the heels of Ophelia, another storm from the Atlantic will continue the threat for rain and wind during the middle of the week. This rainfall on top of the rain from Ophelia will heighten the risk for flooding.

Report a Typo