Ophelia to Strike Ireland with Cat 2 Hurricane Winds
Hurricane Ophelia has begun a transformation into an extratropical cyclone; even so, it is forecast to impact Ireland head-on with Category 2 hurricane force winds, life-threatening storm surge, and extremely heavy rain. Strong winds and heavy rain will begin battering Ireland and the United Kingdom today, with the worst arriving tomorrow. The center of circulation of Ophelia will make a direct strike on Ireland’s southwest coast at roughly 2am Monday morning. Ophelia will increase in size as it moves north and east, spreading heavy rain and damaging winds across a broad area. Met Eireann, the official weather agency for Ireland, has raised warnings there, advising people that Category 2 hurricane strength winds are expected near the point of landfall. ...
http://www.weatherboy.com/ophelia-strike-ireland-cat-2-hurricane-winds/HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND
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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 of the post-tropical cyclone makes landfall. Near the coast,
the surge will be accompanied by large and destructive waves.
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/text/refresh/MIATCPAT2+shtml/151443.shtml?