The latest in a string of hurricanes this year is currently on its way to Ireland, bringing unusually warm and sunny weather to the United Kingdom. However, while the English sunbathe in unusually warm 25 degree Celsius (77 deg Fahrenheit) heat, people in Ireland wait for Hurricane Ophelia to arrive, with potentially life-threatening effects.

‘Danger to life’ from Hurricane Ophelia

According to weather experts in the U.K., Hurricane Ophelia has strengthened to a Category 3 storm as it heads towards Ireland. The storm is expected to hit Ireland on Monday, October 16 – which is 30 years to the day after the Great Storm in 1987 in Britain killed 18 people.

As reported by the Telegraph, weather experts are now warning that Ophelia could also potentially cause “danger to life” as it arrives in Ireland on Monday.

Hurricane Ophelia has already set a new record as the strongest hurricane on the eastern side of the Atlantic and is currently heading for the U.K. west coast and Ireland, with top winds of around 115 mph. Up until Saturday, Ophelia was a Category 2 storm but was upgraded after it is expected to turn into a post-tropical cyclone by the time it arrives in Ireland.

Yellow and red weather warnings issued for Hurricane Ophelia

A yellow weather warning comes into effect at 12 p.m. Monday for both the western U.K. coast – which includes portions of Wales, Scotland and England – and Northern Ireland. However, Ireland itself has been hit with the most serious red weather warning, as it is expected to receive the full brunt of Ophelia.

In a Sunday morning emergency meeting, residents were alerted to expect severe winds and possible flooding. The red weather warning takes effect at 9 AM on Monday.

Forecasters in Wales, England, and Northern Ireland warned residents to expect power cuts and disruptions to cell phone coverage from the storm.

According to forecasters, western Ireland and Scotland can expect from around two to three inches of rainfall, up to a possible four inches. The National Hurricane Center warned of “large and destructive waves,” after the eye of the storm makes landfall in Ireland.

Hurricane Ophelia was believed to affect the Iberian Peninsula

When news first arrived of the potential damage from Hurricane Ophelia, it was thought the storm might affect Spain and Portugal. Local English language tabloids in Spain instantly warned of the impending storm, making local residents concerned.

However, and as reported by the Express, while the storm’s path will take it in the direction of the Iberian Peninsula, forecasters believe the storm will gradually turn and stay well offshore on its way to Ireland.

The Iberian Peninsula, which includes both Spain and Portugal has only been hit by two major storms in recent history, with one storm hitting in 1842 and the latest being Hurricane Vince in 2005. However, Hurricane Ophelia did become a Category 3 as it brushed past the Portuguese Azores islands en route to Ireland.
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