Met Éireann, Ireland’s National Meteorological Service, issued a National Weather Warning due to Hurricane Ophelia that transitioned into a post-tropical cyclone as it approaches the Irish coast today.

A red weather alert is in effect for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry where mean wind speeds in excess of 80 km/h and gusts in excess of 130km/h are expected, potentially causing structural damage and disruption, with dangerous marine conditions due to high seas and potential flooding.

An orange weather alert is in effect for the rest of Ireland where mean wind speeds between 65 and 80 km/h with gusts between 110 and 130km/h are expected, however some inland areas may not be quite as severe. The winds have potential to cause structural damage and disruption, with dangerous marine conditions due to high seas and potential flooding.

Hurricane Ophelia 2017 Strength

As of 11 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Sunday, October 15, 2017 (3 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time on October 16, 2017), Post-Tropical Cyclone Ophelia has maximum sustained winds of 140 km/h (85 mph), with higher gusts.

Ophelia is currently at Category 1 hurricane strength on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. NOAA’s National Hurricane Center forecasters say that Ophelia is forecast to remain a powerful post-tropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds as it approaches Ireland on Monday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 110 km (70 miles) from the center of the tropical cyclone and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 445 km (275 miles).

Computer models are in general agreement that Post-Tropical Cyclone Ophelia’s projected path will continue in a north-northeastward direction towards Ireland, Scotland, and Norway.

Post-Tropical Cyclone Ophelia is located 355 km (220 miles) southwest of Mizen Head, Ireland and is moving to the north at 70 km/h (44 mph). NHC forecasters say that a turn toward the north-northeast with a decrease in forward speed is expected on Monday, with that heading continuing through Tuesday.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center forecasts that the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 through November 30, could be the busiest in seven years.