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Former Hurricane Ophelia to strike Ireland as post-tropical storm

By UPI staff
A handout photo by NASA shows a natural color image acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite of Hurricane Ophelia in the eastern Atlantic Ocean as it heads towards Ireland. Photo by EPA-EFE/NASA
A handout photo by NASA shows a natural color image acquired by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA's Aqua satellite of Hurricane Ophelia in the eastern Atlantic Ocean as it heads towards Ireland. Photo by EPA-EFE/NASA

Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Former Hurricane Ophelia is forecast to pass over Ireland and Britain Monday as a strong post-tropical cyclone, the National Hurricane Center said.

In its 11 p.m. and final advisory for the storm, the NHC in Miami said Ophelia had sustained winds of 85 mph. It was traveling north at 44 mph and was 220 miles southwest of Mizen Head, Ireland.

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The Irish meteorological center Met Eireann issued a status red for western Ireland. It said the storm system could bring violent and destructive gusts of 75 mph noting, "the worst of the winds over Munster and south Leinster this morning will quickly extend to the rest of the country this afternoon. "

"There is danger to life and property," the update noted.

Presently, the storm is expected to track over the tip of Kerry, Clare and into West Galway, traveling up towards Donegal this evening.

Ophelia is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 2 to 3 inches with isolated totals near 4 inches through Tuesday across western Ireland and Scotland. Across eastern Ireland, rainfall amounts will average around 1 inch.

"A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding near and to the east of where the centre of the post-tropical cyclone makes landfall," a Met Eireann update said. "Near the coast, the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves."

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"The center of the post-tropical cyclone will move near western Ireland on Monday and then near northern Scotland Monday night," the NHC said earlier. "The post-tropical cyclone is expected to dissipate near western Norway by Tuesday night."

Ophelia developed last Monday out of a decaying cold front that had stalled over the North Atlantic in early October.

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