Ophelia to bring hurricane force wind, heavy rain to Ireland

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar tweeted: “Defence forces being deployed in Red weather alert areas and on standby for further action tomorrow.” (Photo: Leo Varadkar/Twitter)

LONDON — Irish authorities ordered all schools in the country to close Monday and warned cyclists and motorists to stay off roads as a storm with hurricane-force winds bore down on Ireland and the United Kingdom.

Once a hurricane, Ophelia was classified as a post-tropical cyclone late Sunday but was moving north with sustained winds of 85 mph (140 kph).

It is forecast to be near western Ireland on Monday and near northern Scotland on Monday night. But U.K. Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said it could still pack “hurricane force” winds.

Ireland’s Met Eireann weather service warned of “violent and destructive gusts” of up to 80 mph (130 kph) along with heavy rain and storm surges, as the storm crossed the country.

The Irish weather service issued a red warning, the highest level, for the whole country, and officials said schools and colleges across Ireland would be closed Monday. Cyclists and motorists were warned to stay off the roads during the height of the storm, and most ferry crossings between Ireland and Britain were cancelled.

The U.S. National Hurricane Center said the storm could bring two to three inches (50 to 75 millimeters) of rain in western Ireland and Scotland, with coastal flooding and “large and destructive waves” where it makes landfall. The classification of post-tropical refers to a cyclone’s meteorological characteristics but such a storm can still have damaging winds and rains.

Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar tweeted: “Defence forces being deployed in Red weather alert areas and on standby for further action tomorrow.”

Dublin and Shannon airports advised passengers to check flight information before travelling, while Cork airport in southwest Ireland said cancellations were likely.

Britain’s Met Office said 80-mph gusts could hit Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K., and warned of potential power cuts, flying debris and disruption to transport and phone signals. Strong winds could also hit Scotland, Wales and England.