Powerful Hurricane Ophelia with 185 kph winds heads towards UK
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LONDON: Hurricane Ophelia strengthened as it marched toward Ireland, where it’s forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rains this week, reported CNN.
The Category 3 hurricane had sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour (115 mph) as it passed east of the Azores early Sunday.
Ophelia will have big impacts for the British Isles beginning Monday, including hurricane-force winds forecast for Ireland.
The fast-moving storm intensified Saturday but is expected to gradually weaken overnight and become a post-tropical cyclone within 24 hours, according to the National Hurricane Center.
It warns the powerful storm will still bring hurricane-force winds as it moves near Ireland and the United Kingdom.
“Direct impacts from wind and heavy rain in portions of these areas are likely, along with dangerous marine conditions,” the center said late Saturday. “Although the center of Ophelia is not forecast to reach Ireland or the UK until Monday, wind and rains will arrive well in advance of the cyclone center.”
Tropical-storm-force winds are possible throughout the Azores on Saturday night behind a cold front following the hurricane, the NHC said.
“The odd part about Ophelia is seeing this intensification take place in what’s normally a much cooler region of the Atlantic Ocean,” CNN Meteorologist Allison Chinchar said.
