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Ireland closes schools as rare hurricane approaches
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This handout satellite image captured on Oct. 13, 2017 by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP and released by NASA Earth Observatory on October 15, 2017 shows hurricane Ophelia approaching the Azores islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Hurricane Ophelia strengthened to a Category 3 storm as it passed near the Portuguese Azores archipelago on Octoer 14 on route for Ireland. Five counties in the west of Ireland will be placed on red alert for (Agence France -Presse/NASA)
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reland has ordered all schools to close Monday as the country braces for an "unprecedented storm" with the arrival of Ophelia, the largest hurricane ever recorded so far east in the Atlantic Ocean.
"In response to the imminent Storm Ophelia, the Department of Education and Skills is now publicly informing all schools, colleges and other education institutions that they are to remain closed tomorrow, Monday 16 October," the department said in a statement.
The decision followed discussions with the government's emergency planning task force and advice "on this unprecedented storm" from Ireland's Met Eireann national weather service, the statement added.
Met Eireann issued a nationwide "status red" alert and warned of "potential risk to lives" when the storm hits daytime Monday.
Cork University Hospital staff car parks full @ 0730. Dedicated health service staff are ready for you #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/xqlGHh2JPJ
— John Duddy (@DrJohnDuddy) October 16, 2017
Although Ophelia will weaken as the storm travels over cooler seas towards the west coast of Ireland, Met Eireann forecast "violent and destructive gusts".
Heavy rain and storm surges are expected to lead to flooding.
An amber wind warning has been issued for Northern Ireland between 1400 GMT and 2100 GMT, when gusts could reach up to 130 kph (80 mph).
"By the time Ophelia reaches our latitudes, she will be weakening and will be an ex-hurricane," said Steve Ramsdale, chief forecaster at Britain's Met Office national weather service.
"However, Ex-Ophelia will be bringing some significant impacts to Northern Ireland and western and northern Britain on Monday and Tuesday."
wee bit of wind so far in Ballincollig #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/8x7yk8F3NL
— Steffen M (@Grobatschew) October 16, 2017
Scotland, Wales and parts of England were under yellow warnings issued by the Met Office, which forecast "very strong winds" and heavy rain in some areas.
Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Sunday that defence forces were being deployed to areas due to be hit by the storm.
Ophelia is the 15th named storm of the 2017 Atlantic season, which is expected to last until the end of November.
Three major hurricanes -- Harvey, Irma and Maria -- caused catastrophic damage in the Caribbean and the US Gulf Coast.
Meteorologists say Ophelia is the most powerful hurricane recorded so far east in the Atlantic and the first since 1939 to travel so far north.
It was classed Category 3 on Saturday as it passed near Portugal's Azores islands, which means it packed winds of at least 178 kilometres (110 miles) per hour.
8am and most of the southwest is covered by at least a pink blanket. Violent winds coming. #ophelia pic.twitter.com/CqQ3cjfFo8
— Bernard Ryan (@blagbtweets) October 16, 2017
