15-10-2017 Ophelia trok over Ierland

De gemeten maximale windsnelheid was 156 km/uur, de laagste luchtdruk 962.2 hPa.

Een tropische cycloon die niet naar het Caribisch gebied trekt maar  naar het noordoosten afbuigt in de richting van Europa is vrij zeldzaam. Een soortgelijke gebeurtenis vond plaats in september 1961, toen Debbie via ongeveer dezelfde route bij Ierland aankwam. Toen waren er 27 doden te betreuren (en nog 60 voor de kust van Afrika doordat een vliegtuig niet bestand was tegen de orkaanwinden). Omdat de waarschuwingssystemen toen duidelijk minder goed waren dan tegenwoordig mogen we hopen dat het deze keer bij alleen schade blijft en dat schepen een veilige haven opgezocht hebben.
Voor Ierland en delen van Engeland geldt code rood.

Het volgende bulletin is van NOAA ontleend.

DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
At 500 AM AST (0900 UTC), the center of Hurricane Ophelia was
located near latitude 39.0 North, longitude 18.3 West. Ophelia is
moving toward the northeast near 35 mph (56 km/h).  A continued
northeastward motion with an increase in forward speed is expected
today, followed by a turn toward the north-northeast tonight. On the
forecast track, the center of Ophelia will approach Ireland on
Monday.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 105 mph (165 km/h)
with higher gusts.  Some additional weakening is expected today and
on Monday, but Ophelia is forecast to become a powerful
post-tropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds as it approaches
Ireland on Monday.

Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles (75 km) from the
center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 150 miles
(240 km).

The estimated minimum central pressure is 964 mb (28.47 inches).
Ophelia's eye recently passed near a drifting buoy that measured a
pressure of 970.9 mb (28.67 inches).


HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
----------------------
WIND:  Gale-force winds are expected to begin across southern
Ireland by early Monday morning and gradually spread northward
across the country during the day.  Hurricane-force winds are
expected to reach the southern portions of Ireland by Monday
afternoon and spread inland across the country into Monday night.
Preparations to protect lives and property should be rushed to
completion by this afternoon.

Wind speeds atop and on the windward sides of hills and mountains
are often up to 30 percent stronger than the near-surface winds
indicated in this advisory, and in some elevated locations could be
even greater.

RAINFALL:  Ophelia is expected to produce rainfall amounts of 2 to
3 inches (50 mm to 75 mm) with isolated totals near 4 inches (100
mm) through Tuesday across western Ireland and Scotland. Across
eastern Ireland, rainfall amounts will average around 1 inch (25 mm)
or less.

STORM SURGE:  A dangerous storm surge is expected to produce
significant coastal flooding near and to the east of where the
center makes landfall.  Near the coast, the surge will be
accompanied by large and destructive waves.