Ophelia puts Ireland on lockdown as country braces for storm’s landfall

Cyclone Ophelia barreled toward Ireland on Monday morning, causing much of the country to go on lockdown against life-threatening weather conditions expected when the storm makes landfall later in the day.

Schools and colleges are closed, ferries have been canceled and more than 1,000 troops have been put on standby to deal with any potential destruction from the weather system, even though it has now been downgraded from a hurricane.

Met Eireann, the Irish meteorological service, has issued a Status Red warning — the highest alert level — urging people to remain indoors and avoid all unnecessary travel.

“Ex-Hurricane Ophelia is forecast to track up over western parts of Ireland during daytime today. Violent and destructive gusts of 120 to 150 km/h are forecast countrywide,” Met Eireann said in its warning.

“Also heavy rain and storm surges along some coasts will result in flooding. There is a danger to life and property,” it added.

Ophelia was formed over the Atlantic last week, reaching Category 3 hurricane strength on Saturday and becoming the strongest eastern Atlantic storm on record. The weather system later in the weekend weakened to a Category 1 hurricane as it raced into colder waters, and it has since been downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone.

Met Éireann forecaster Joanna Donnelly, however, cautioned people “not to get hung up on the terminology,” warning that Ophelia is set to become the worst storm to hit Ireland since Hurricane Debbie in 1961, according to local media.

U.S. National Hurricane Center

Meanwhile in the U.K., the Met Office has issued an amber wind warning for Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland and Wales and warned of “potential for injuries and danger to life.”

“There is a good chance that power cuts may occur, with the potential to affect other services, such as mobile phone coverage,” the U.K.’s weather service said on Monday.

“Flying debris is likely, such as tiles blown from roofs, as well as large waves around coastal districts with beach material being thrown onto coastal roads, sea fronts and properties,” the Met Office added.

September was officially the most active month for Atlantic hurricanes on record, according to the U.S. National Hurricane Center.

Four tropical cyclones became hurricanes and three of those Harvey, Irma and Maria, became major hurricanes, defined as Category 3 or higher.

The storms caused damage to Texas, Louisiana and Florida, devastated many Caribbean islands and fully destroyed the electrical power system in Puerto Rico, which continues to try to dig out from the damage.