Three victims named as Hurricane Ophelia passes over Ireland

Our coverage of Hurricane Ophelia has concluded for the night. We will have more tomorrow, Tuesday. If you have any questions please leave them in the comments. And please keep safe. 

Updated 7:45

Ophelia has all but passed over Ireland now, leaving 3 dead and approximately 330,000 without power.  

The three victims of the storm have been named.  

#Ophelia has tragically claimed the lives of Clare O'Neill, Michael Pyke & Fintan Goss RIP. To their bereft families I offer my condolences.

— James Reynolds (@JamesReynoldsNP) October 17, 2017

Clare O'Neill, 58, an oncology nurse, who died when a tree fell on her car just a little over a mile from her home in Aglish, Co, Waterford. 

#BREAKING First #Ophelia victim named as Clare O'Neill a Cancer Support Coordinator. Her car was hit by a tree in #Waterford @3NewsIreland pic.twitter.com/hEEvueG09i

— Zara King (@ZaraKing) October 16, 2017

Michael Pyke, a 31-year-old electrician from Ballybrado, Co. Tipperary. When he took his chainsaw and went to tend to a tree that had been hit nearby his home, he was fatally struck by one of the falling branches. 

Lord we pray you embrace Clare O Neill, Michael Pyke and the third victim of #Ophelia. Michael was 31 and Clare would be 59 tomorrow - ?RIP pic.twitter.com/DuwXe3ZB6Z

— Killaloe Diocese (@KillaloeDiocese) October 16, 2017

Fintan Goss of Dundalk, Co. Louth, whose car was also struck by a tree as he drove home from work. Goss is believed to have been in his 30s and married with two children. 

Local man killed in accident at Ravensdale named as Fintan Goss https://t.co/JL433XdgkI

— Talk of the Town (@TOTTDundalk) October 16, 2017

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said "We have had three tragic deaths but the most important thing is that no-one else losses their life. There are still dangers even if the storm is gone."

He vowed that "The full resources of the state will be deployed for the clean up operation. Crews from UK and Northern Ireland will be in to help," the Irish Independent reports. 

Updated 5:30pm

Many in the UK have been reporting harsh allergen conditions in the air and the unusual sight of a red sky. According to the Met Office, this is because Ophelia's powerful winds "have also drawn dust from the Sahara to our latitudes and the dust scatters the blue light from the sun letting more red light through much as at sunrise or sunset."

Irish singer Imelda May captured this phenomenon flying in to London

Fire sun in an Ophelia sky this evening...Flying into London or landing on the moon?! Eerie #nofilter #hurricaneophelia #staysafeireland pic.twitter.com/XIQ7IFUCI1

— Imelda May (@ImeldaOfficial) October 16, 2017

It also emerged as a meme on Twitter, with Irish people suggesting they would have much preferred see a red sky than bits of nearby roofs blown off

Ireland: 3 dead, people missing and houses being destroyed
UK: look at our red sky!!
Ireland: oh god help you

— Leah?? (@LikeThisLeah) October 16, 2017

Updated 3:55pm

Ireland's weather service is reporting that Dublin has seen the worst of Ophelia now, as the storm system continues north. By midnight it should have passed over the island of Ireland, but all are advised to remain cautious of residual flooding and falling debris.

Ophelia Hits Ireland https://t.co/FvTygJ2UV6 #NASA pic.twitter.com/zb0GOZlRlx

— NASA Earth (@NASAEarth) October 16, 2017

Met Eireann has released its highest winds recorded today: 

A selection of some of our strongest gusts today (km/h):
Fastnet Lightnouse 191
Roches Point 156
Kinsale Platform 141#Ophelia

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) October 16, 2017

In some places, the measurements stopped when power went out: 

Waterford Airport 137 km/h
Sherkin Island 135 (before loss of power)
Cork Airport 126 (before loss of power)
Shannon Airport 122#Ophelia

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) October 16, 2017

Updated 3:15pm

In the midst of a very serious weather alert, Irish humor is pulling through for a bit of sunshine. 

Check out these prime examples: 

Updated 2:00pm 

Ireland remains on status red alert as Ophelia moves north-east, with high winds hitting Galway and Dublin between 5pm and 7pm local time. 

Public transportation remains closed, and most schools will remain closed tomorrow, but Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has stated that Tuesday will otherwise be a 'normal day.'

Storm Ophelia: Status red weather warning remains in place nationwide pic.twitter.com/fKbd2P9VnF

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) October 16, 2017

Following careful consideration by the National Emergency Coordination Group, the Department of Education and Skills, has decided that all schools will remain closed tomorrow #Ophelia

— Richard Bruton (@RichardbrutonTD) October 16, 2017

Updated 1:20pm 

Believe it or not, the Irish Coast Guard has had to issue continues warnings urging people to stay out of the water as Ophelia passes.

Stay Back, Stay High & Stay Dry!
If you see someone in difficulty in the sea, on the shore dial 999/112 & ask for the Coast Guard. #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/8cBJ6fxflR

— Irish Coast Guard (@IrishCoastGuard) October 16, 2017

Earlier in the day, they had to step in to rescue a group of kite surfers in Louth, after which many concerned citizens took to Twitter to give them a good scolding. 

It beggars belief that despite all the warnings @IrishCoastGuard has been tasked to rescue kite surfers and people in small sailing boats today. Reckless and selfish beyond words. There's a time for adventure and a time for a bit of basic common sense #Ophelia

— Siobhan McNamara (@SiobhanNews) October 16, 2017

Interviewed 2 “bathers” after they went into Atlantic 1pm at Blackrock diving spot Salthill, Galway. Hard to stand on land never mind swim. pic.twitter.com/rQokbNIWVP

— Ed Carty (@EdCartyPA) October 16, 2017

Updated 11.20am - A third person has been killed in incidents caused by Storm Ophelia. The latest incident happened in Dundalk, County Louth.

A man was killed after a tree fell on his car in Ravendale, just before 3.30pm.

In Ballybrado, Cahir, County Tipperary, a man was killed by a fatal chainsaw injury while attempting to clear a fallen tree at 12.30pm (7.30amEST).

Earlier, at 11.40am (6.40amEST), a woman in her 50s was also killed when a tree fell on her car, just outside Aglish village in County Waterford.

11.08am -

Schools to remain closed the day after Storm Ophelia

Ireland's Minister for Education, Fine Gael's, Richard Burton has announced that Ireland's schools will remain closed on Tuesday (Oct 17).

Following careful consideration by the National Emergency Coordination Group, the Department of Education and Skills, has decided that all schools will remain closed tomorrow #Ophelia

— Richard Bruton (@RichardbrutonTD) October 16, 2017

This announcement comes as several schools and sports grounds have been damaged by Storm Ophelia. In the video below the roof of Douglas Community School can be seen being blown off and into a residential area.

Dramatic footage of the roof being blown off #Douglas Community School's gym on southside of #Cork city #Ophelia #iestaff pic.twitter.com/0dSw5w1rTj

— Eoin English (@EoinBearla) October 16, 2017

Just got sent this of #Douglas community school #cork #Ophelia pic.twitter.com/Ed12wamGI0

— calvin kissane (@calvin_kissane) October 16, 2017

10.17am:

Ophelia brings record-breaking winds as storm claims second life

Ireland is being hit by winds, with speeds of 70 mph with gusts of up to 96 mph. At Fastnet Rock, in Cork, a gust of 118 mph has been recorded.

The storm has now claimed a second life when a man in his 30s died while attempting to clear a fallen tree in County Tipperary. The man sustained a fatal injury while using a chainsaw, at Ballybrado, Cahir, at about 12.30pm.

Roofs have been blown off buildings, including a school in Cork, trees have been uprooted and electricity lines disrupted. Met Eireann, the meteorological service, has reported that gusts will remain at about 93 mph as the storm continues to move northwards.

The National Hurricane Center in the US has said that counties Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal will be the worst affected.

Gardaí have urged all motorists and the public not to make any non-essential journeys. They advise people not to cycle whatsoever.

9.15am:

360,000 home without power, may not have electricity for 10 days

Over 360,000 homes in Ireland are now without electricity as Hurricane Ophelia continues to batter the west and south of Ireland. Ireland’s Electricity Supply Board has said it could be up to 10 days by the time power is restored.

Met Eireann, Ireland’s meteorological service, has said the eye of the storm passed over Valentia Observatory in County Kerry. Gusts as high as 100 mph with extremely severe conditions have been reported across Cork and Kerry.

360,00 homes in #Ireland now without power - nearly 25% of country without electricity. And only half way through #Ophelia. #OpheliaIreland

— Jon Williams (@WilliamsJon) October 16, 2017

“The most severe winds over Munster and south Leinster at present will extend quickly to the rest of the country this afternoon,” Met Éireann said.

“The heaviest of the hurricane winds will be down along the south and east coast of the Irish sea. As the storm moves along, there’s another extra core going to fed into Co Clare and the West Coast of Galway. The estimated time of the secondary core is 3pm [8pmEST].”

8.10am:

Ex-Hurricane Ophelia claims its first victim in Ireland

A female motorist was killed near Aglish, in County Waterford after a section of a tree, damaged by Ex-Hurricane Ophelia fell on her car. She was the sole occupant of the car and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Another person was seriously injured in the accident.

Police says conditions are treacherous and warn motorists not to travel anywhere, unless it is an emergency.

7.34am:

Irish leader declares national emergency as storm Ophelia hits

Ireland Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar has issued a statement reiterating that ex-Hurricane Ophelia is being considered a national emergency.

On Monday morning he said “I do have a concern though that people may believe that the storm isn't going to be as bad as predicted.

"There is a possibility that we are going to be here tomorrow relieved that the damage was less than we thought, but we can't operate on that basis.

"So I don't want anyone to think that this is anything other than a national emergency and a red alert in all counties, all cities, all areas."

Taoiseach concerned that some people are not taking warnings and forecasts seriously enough pic.twitter.com/I0fioySEw6

— Mícheál Lehane (@MichealLehane) October 16, 2017

6.41am: It’s estimated that 120,000 people will be without power across the south and west of Ireland as Storm Ophelia, the worst seen in Ireland since Hurricane Debbie in 1961, hits land.

Bernadine Moloney, from Ireland’s Electricity Supply Board (ESB) told Newstalk “We have about 6,000 people in the south-west who are without power at the moment and there are a number of outages in the north-west as well so the storm is beginning to impact at this moment in time.

“The main thing we want to say people is to avoid any fallen lines, to not touch them and if they see them, to ring 1850 372 999.”

Posted 5.30am:

Irish warned to “take heed to what is coming” as post-tropical storm makes landfall

On Monday morning Ireland was bracing itself for the worst hurricane-force winds it has experienced since 1961 as the post-hurricane storm Ophelia arrived. Thousands of homes in the south west of the country are already reported to be without power at the post-tropical cyclone made landfall.

The incoming storm, the worst in over 50 years, has been called “unprecedented” by Ireland’s meteorological services, Met Eireann, and the entire country has been set to a “statue red warning”. This warned will run until Monday at 11.59pm.

The National Director of Fire Emergency Management Seán Hogan has said “everybody in this country needs to take heed of what is coming…  The nature of the extreme weather conditions are expected to be comparable with or perhaps to exceed, those of Hurricane Debbie in 1961, when 11 deaths occurred with a similar type storm.”

Here's the forecast track of #Ophelia
Note the strongest winds will be to the east of the centre of the storm. pic.twitter.com/t4RwSESOeV

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) October 16, 2017

Met Éireann said Hurricane Ophelia was a “Category 3” storm and it was the most powerful hurricane this far east of the US on record.

On Sunday night Met Éireann released the following statement:

 “Ex-Hurricane Ophelia is forecast to track directly over Ireland during daytime Monday. Violent and destructive gusts are forecast with all areas at risk and in particular the southwest and south in the morning, and eastern counties in the afternoon. Also, heavy rain and storm surges along some coasts will result in flooding. There is potential risk to lives.”

The storm hit shore in the west and southeast of Ireland on Monday morning and will “quickly extend to the rest of the country [on Monday] afternoon”.

Schools and colleges, non-essential hospital facilities, much public transport and some aviation services have ceased and Ireland’s army has been deployed to shore-up flood defense. Met Eireann warned of “danger to life and property” and told the public to expect weather to be “stormy with violent, damaging gusts of 120 to 150 kilometers [74.5 to 93.2 miles] an hour. "

Here's how #Ophelia is looking at 9am. pic.twitter.com/pfphSmn8KJ

— Denise O'Donoghue (@deniseodonoghue) October 16, 2017

The storm is expected to produce rainfall of up to 50mm (1.9 inches) in parts of the west of the country, with isolated totals above 50mm  (1.9 inches) in elevated areas of the south and west. Across eastern Ireland, rainfall amounts will likely average less than 30mm (1.1 inches). The weather service have also warned of the high risk of flooding due to heavy rain or thunderstorms and storm surges along some coasts.

By Monday morning Dublin airport was operating as normal but 130 flights to and from Dublin had been canceled due to the expected impact of the storm. Aer Lingus, Ryanair, British Airways, Qatar Airways, Air France, CityJet, Emirates and KLM have all canceled some services. The airlines in question have contacted passengers directly in relation to any services that have been affected.

#Ophelia #DunmoreEast #Waterford https://t.co/YFZDdSxpzp

— Jamie Hogan (@FCTwenteBenson) October 16, 2017

Cork Airport has said that some 26 Aer Lingus and Aer Lingus Regional flights in and out of the airport on Monday had been canceled. Passengers can rebook free of charge, cancel or apply for a refund at aerlingus.com.

A spokeswoman for Shannon Airport said a number of flights to and from the airport had been canceled on Monday.

An Garda Síochána (the police) have urged people not to make any non-essential journeys and to avoid cycling. Ireland’s Coast Guard has advised extreme caution on Monday and urged people to avoid any visits or walks to coastal or cliff areas.