Hurricane Ophelia is expected to batter across the UK on Monday, October 16, almost 30 years after the Great Storm of 1987 that killed 18 people.
Ophelia was a category three hurricane on Saturday. As it moved northeast across the Atlantic, maintaining its winds of 105 mph on Sunday, the hurricane was downgraded to category 2.
Weather forecast
The Met Office of UK has issued amber and yellow warnings as the hurricane approaches. The Amber warning was issued for Northern Ireland. The yellow warning, on the other hand, was issued for Central, Tayside & Fife, Highlands, Eilean Siar, North East and North West England, Northern Ireland, SW Scotland, Lothian Borders, South West England, Strathclyde, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire, and Humber.
Under the amber warning, between 3 PM on Monday, October 16 and 10 PM, very windy weather is expected. Power disruption is possible which will affect mobile phone coverage. Everyone is warned about the likelihood of flying debris and large waves around coastal areas.
Hurricane Ophelia is forecasted to cross Northern Ireland on the afternoon and evening of Monday with gust winds of up to 55 to 65 mph and consequently a 70 to 80 mph gusts in the far southeast.
Temperatures are expected to reach the middle of 20 degrees Celsius on Monday.
Meanwhile, National Hurricane Centre said that when Ophelia makes a landfall, large and destructive waves are likely. London and central parts of England may be affected by the tail end of winds accompanying the hurricane, as indicated in the maps issued by the Centre.
Cancelled flights, schools closed
Airlines have canceled flights to and from Dublin Airport and Ireland West Airport already. Flights to Manchester, Bristol, Glasgow and Southampton from Cork Airport were canceled too. In the like manner, Shannon Airport canceled several flights to and from Wroclaw, Faro and Lanzarote, Birmingham, and London/Heathrow.
All affected passengers were advised to check flight information with their respective airlines for further announcement and guidance.
Schools and Colleges in the North of UK were ordered by the Department of Education to close. Transport services of Bus Éireann were suspended.
The Ministry of defense said that they have deployed three battalions of soldiers who are on standby for possible incidents.
Residents of affected areas prepared their emergency kits as well as food and water as the hurricane approaches.
