Storm Ophelia - General Discussion/Local reports - See MOD NOTE Post #1

aidanodr · 14-10-2017 8:36pm

https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/ophelia-hits-category-3-destructive-winds-tap-ireland

To call Ophelia unusual would be an understatement. For one thing, it became a major hurricane at longitude 26.6°W, further east than any other formation of a Category 3 in the Atlantic.

What’s a major hurricane doing in a place like this?

By conventional standards, one wouldn’t even expect Ophelia to be a hurricane, much less a major one. Sea surface temperatures beneath Ophelia are around 25°C (77°F), which is roughly 1°C below the traditional benchmark of SST levels warm enough to support tropical development. However, these waters are about 2°C (3.6°F) above average for the location and the time of year, and upper-level temperatures near the top of Ophelia are several degrees C below average.

With Ophelia strengthening even more than predicted, a destructive windstorm in Ireland on par with some of the most damaging in the nation’s history is becoming increasingly likely.

Regardless of whether it is still classified as a hurricane or not, Ophelia is predicted to approach Ireland on Monday with top winds somewhere near hurricane strength, plus an expanding field of gale-force winds.

Expect widespread tree damage and uprooted trees, damaged roofs, power blackouts, mobile phone coverage interruptions, and flying debris.

marno21 · 14-10-2017 8:39pm

IT Tralee is closed on Monday.. https://www.facebook.com/ITTralee

RoisinClare6 · 14-10-2017 8:39pm

Deeply concerned about the homeless that will be on the streets during this.

mikeecho · 14-10-2017 8:43pm

Cars are brimmed
I've some tinned food
Wind up torch/radio
Candles, lighters
Torches & batteries
50L of water and the bath will be filled (I've a well, so no power means no water)
Superser heater with 2 gas cylinders
2 camping stoves, and 8 aerosol type gas cans.
Lots of coal and timber.
Ereader charged
Power packs will be charged.
Freezers will be set to max freezing tomorrow.

Now.. just need to find my wellies, and tidy the garden tomorrow.

Hopefully, I've enough done.

spookwoman · 14-10-2017 8:44pm

mikeecho wrote: »

Cars are brimmed
I've some tinned food
Wind up torch/radio
Candles, lighters
Torches & batteries
50L of water and the bath will be filled (I've a well, so no power means no water)
Superser heater with 2 gas cylinders
2 camping stoves, and 8 aerosol type gas cans.
Lots of coal and timber.
Ereader charged
Power packs will be charged.
Freezers will be set to max freezing tomorrow.

Now.. just need to find my wellies, and tidy the garden tomorrow.

Hopefully, I've enough done.

Toilet paper

Skippette · 14-10-2017 8:44pm

Well we have the trampoline down in preparation for Monday but the tv signal is a bit iffy already with the wind.... how do ye think Castlebar will fair out?

Harry Palmr · 14-10-2017 8:46pm

I'm now seriously considering bringing down the main branches of the tree at the bottom of the garden.

ooompie5 · 14-10-2017 8:50pm

Harry Palmr wrote: »

I'm now seriously considering bringing down the main branches of the tree at the bottom of the garden.

Miaght be more dangerous for you to be messing with it yourself. It might survive ok. Is it in range of buildings if it were to fall?

mikeecho · 14-10-2017 8:52pm

spookwoman wrote: »

Toilet paper

Sh!t.. literally.

I've plenty, also have wet wipes and lots of plastic bags.

I'll be going to the shop early on Monday, to get the last few essentials, bread, milk, fig rolls, Jaffa cakes, and a bottle of scotch to enjoy in front of the open fire.. as long as the roof stays attached to the house.

Also have petrol and two stroke for the chainsaw.

gozunda · 14-10-2017 8:54pm

Working class heroes wrote: »

Paywall.....

Google National Emergency group to find article - should allow you direct access

"The National Emergency Co-ordination Group will meet on Sunday to discuss preparations for the post-tropical storm due to hit Ireland on Monday.

Officials from a number of Government departments as well as emergency services and the Defence Forces will meet to discuss co-ordination for the event..."

Beechwoodspark · 14-10-2017 8:55pm

munsterlegend wrote: »

I thought our national news was very poor this evening. The focus was on buses being cancelled as opposed to possible severe structural damages and potentially risk to life. Surely they could have had someone from met eireann in their studio or a live link as opposed to a pre recorded interview.

I agree. There's probably loads of people who will wake up on Monday morning in "blissful ignorance" about what is bearing down on this island.

RTÉ need to up their game tomorrow otherwise I fear for the consequences.

Pinkycharm · 14-10-2017 8:59pm

Very nervous for driving to work on Monday. I'm teaching 70km from home. Wonder will they close the schools? I'm in Tipperary.

Harry Palmr · 14-10-2017 8:59pm

ooompie5 wrote: »

Miaght be more dangerous for you to be messing with it yourself. It might survive ok. Is it in range of buildings if it were to fall?

I'll have a proper look at the height/angles etc in the morning.

jacksie66 · 14-10-2017 9:00pm

This post has been deleted.

The Specialist · 14-10-2017 9:03pm

jacksie66 wrote: »

I work in the cresent shopping centre in Limerick. Do places like that have their own backup generators in case of a power outage? Or would that only apply to hospitals?

Nope the Crescent got blacked out by the storm in 2014, most shop staff were sent home.

Galway1989 · 14-10-2017 9:03pm

The main thing is that people stay safe. Heres hoping that damage to property and cars is minimal. I'm not worried about a couple of days waiting for power to be restored. I'm genuinely worrying now about getting to and from work on Monday. I've got the motorway (a crosswind moved the car yesterday on the journey home, never mind contending with a storm) and I've got several roads I could use lined with poles and trees.

If I decided not to travel, would I be the only wuss that stayed at home or the only sensible one that didn't venture out?

A downgrade to a few gales would be excellent right about now!!!

SweetCaliber · 14-10-2017 9:05pm

jacksie66 wrote: »

I work in the cresent shopping centre in Limerick. Do places like that have their own backup generators in case of a power outage? Or would that only apply to hospitals?

Not sure, however I know bigger supermarkets usually have back up generators in case of power outage to keep the fridges and freezers going.

star gazer · 14-10-2017 9:06pm

Some useful essentials for keeping informed:

The Irish meteorological service
https://twitter.com/MetEireann

The Office of Emergency planning
https://twitter.com/emergencyIE

Electricity Network
https://twitter.com/ESBNetworks

Plus your Local Authority

aidanodr · 14-10-2017 9:07pm

https://twitter.com/CotswoldWeather/status/919223043788017664

Record breaking stuff!!

#Ophelia has just become a Category 3 hurricane. A Cat 3 has never been recorded this far east since records began.

spookwoman · 14-10-2017 9:08pm

star gazer wrote: »

Some useful essentials for keeping informed:

The Irish meteorological service
https://twitter.com/MetEireann

The Office of Emergency planning
https://twitter.com/emergencyIE

Electricity Network
https://twitter.com/ESBNetworks

Plus your Local Authority

AA Roadwatch https://twitter.com/aaroadwatch

Widdershins · 14-10-2017 9:08pm

Galway1989 wrote: »

The main thing is that people stay safe. Heres hoping that damage to property and cars is minimal. I'm not worried about a couple of days waiting for power to be restored. I'm genuinely worrying now about getting to and from work on Monday. I've got the motorway (a crosswind moved the car yesterday on the journey home, never mind contending with a storm) and I've got several roads I could use lined with poles and trees.

If I decided not to travel, would I be the only wuss that stayed at home or the only sensible one that didn't venture out?

A downgrade to a few gales would be excellent right about now!!!

I'm going to try to persuade my fiance to take Monday off. It will probably look safe enough early in the morning, but Pheeley's supposed to land at lunchtime. The drive after work is what's worrying me.

PLL · 14-10-2017 9:13pm

SunshineKid wrote: »

I work in Galway & commute from Athlone via the M6. Would I be mad to try & go to work on Monday??

I also commute into Galway and personally I'm worried about the abundance of trucks/HGV on the road.

RobbingBandit · 14-10-2017 9:14pm

Nothing on Dublin Bus as of this time about potential impact on services, looking at some of the images of the storm scale it seems larger than the island of Ireland, we in a heap of trouble.

Cantona's Collars · 14-10-2017 9:16pm

A caravan park in England after the 1987 storm.I wouldn't like to be in one on the South coast come Monday afternoon.

Mrself · 14-10-2017 9:17pm

Does anyone know what kind of timeframe we are looking at Monday morning? Im thinking school runs and if I should consider keeping the kids home. Do we know how early it will hit?

Doltanian · 14-10-2017 9:18pm

I think the Army should be mobilised and all aircraft be evacuated from Shannon and Cork airport.

PLL · 14-10-2017 9:18pm

I'm up in a house on a hill in Galway at the moment, wind speed is 34km and I can hear it clearly - nothing new for Galway, we're used to it. But seriously, the idea of reaching 80 is worrying. What is even more worrying is the laid back attitude of some people. The 'Ireland doesn't get hurricanes' view is popular so people don't realise there is a hurricane heading our direction. Yes It might have calmed before Monday, but still, will people take this seriously! It's not just a bit of wind.

Galway1989 · 14-10-2017 9:22pm

Widdershins wrote: »

I'm going to try to persuade my fiance to take Monday off. It will probably look safe enough early in the morning, but Pheeley's supposed to land at lunchtime. The drive after work is what's worrying me.

Yep I might find myself stranded at work after the morning commute! The M17 is so exposed in parts. I hope we get some decent advice tomorrow after the emergency group meet

aidanodr · 14-10-2017 9:22pm

I got this from an acquaintance on twitter. I looked it up. From METALERT IRELAND. Take it as you will.

https://www.facebook.com/metalertireland/

DMH9wnpWsAYXOH4.jpg:large

RobbingBandit · 14-10-2017 9:22pm

A lot of the scales being used are the uk mph, 80 mph is 128kmph.

flaneur · 14-10-2017 9:22pm

Doltanian wrote: »

I think the Army should be mobilised and all aircraft be evacuated from Shannon and Cork airport.

The way things are looking, Dublin Airport could be also likely to experience some serious wind.
It might be moving them all to somewhere in England temporarily.

George Sunsnow · 14-10-2017 9:23pm

It’s a tad strange when there’s better coverage of this storms impact in Ireland on bbc news 24 than on RTÉ news tonight

flaneur · 14-10-2017 9:24pm

RobbingBandit wrote: »

A lot of the scales being used are the uk mph, 80 mph is 128kmph.

I really wish met services would stick to one SI unit, or at least use one reference unit if they must use knots, mph, inches, roods to the ghurry etc.

Widdershins · 14-10-2017 9:25pm

aidanodr wrote: »

Who originally posted it?

A lot of people are waiting for the official green light r.e cancelling non essential travel...

happywithlife · 14-10-2017 9:28pm

I don't usually scare that easily but remember stupidly trying to drive home in 2014 during that storm. I actually feared for my life so am taking heed of warnings. Am hoping work (school in cork area) close but as if yet we are open. Grand for locals but I've an hour and half (on an average day) commute just to get there. Seriously considering ringing in if weather is as bad as expected especially if I can't guarantee getting home to The kids on time either
Was away all day today so will be cleaning up the yard tomorrow- 're trampoline beyond sandbags to weigh the legs down what else can we Do? Remove side netting? We have it pegged down with straps as it is as we lost the last one in 2014.

dashoonage · 14-10-2017 9:29pm

happywithlife wrote: »

I don't usually scare that easily but remember stupidly trying to drive home in 2014 during that storm. I actually feared for my life so am taking heed of warnings. Am hoping work (school in cork area) close but as if yet we are open. Grand for locals but I've an hour and half (on an average day) commute just to get there. Seriously considering ringing in if weather is as bad as expected especially if I can't guarantee getting home to The kids on time either
Was away all day today so will be cleaning up the yard tomorrow- 're trampoline beyond sandbags to weigh the legs down what else can we Do? Remove side netting? We have it pegged down with straps as it is as we lost the last one in 2014.

Put a name tag on it so people know who to return it too.

Cantona's Collars · 14-10-2017 9:32pm

jd wrote: »

I'd stay away from any east coast beaches, easy to get sideswiped by southerly running swells.

This will test all those tower cranes in Dublin.

Mrself · 14-10-2017 9:33pm

Is this going to hit early Monday morning? Should kids be kept home from school?

flaneur · 14-10-2017 9:34pm

We've got someone having a huge argument that they can't cancel a meeting because there's no official advice not to make non-essential journeys.

Someone needs to declare this a stay-in-place national emergency, or you'll get employees being coerced into going to work in very dangerous conditions.

I was also speaking to someone earlier who had a hospital appointment which they'd been waiting months on and they're likely to attempt to travel whether there's a storm or not. The HSE needs to be VERY clear about that soon.

Cannon_fodder · 14-10-2017 9:35pm

Cantona's Collars wrote: »

This will test all those tower cranes in Dublin.

Could be a few spinny tops in North Wall Quay alright on Monday

Ace2007 · 14-10-2017 9:36pm

What's the worse case scenario for this storm and Dublin, I have no idea the magnitude of it, are we suggesting that folk in the south of Ireland shouldn't be leaving their homes and probably won't have much power after it hits - what about Dublin. Also how long is this storm - a few hours?

All that might sound stupid but I have no idea.

donal.hunt · 14-10-2017 9:37pm

I'm seriously thinking of writing a pre-morterm for this storm and the way we're handling it as a nation.

Met Eireann are the de-facto gurus when it comes to weather forecasts and are providing data for other organisations to make decisions. Except no-one else appears to be...

Emergency.ie meeting is scheduled for tomorrow (should have been one on Friday looking at what decisions needed to be made by who and when). I expect there could be a mad scramble after that meeting ends? Any idea what time it's at?

Bus Eireann have made an early call and I thinnk it makes a lot of sense.

Some locations have activated flood barriers but I haven't seen a whole lot of noise.

Of the few people I bumped into today, very few were aware of the storm and even those who were weren't treating it very seriously.

My severe weather plan is already activated. Cleared up the yard today to remove any potential debris. Have stocked up on essentials on the basis there is a good chance electrical supplies will be affected. Have verified with the school that they will alert Sunday evening if they are closing but it's at the descretion of parents whether to send kids if the school is open. Current plan is to keep everyone home, stoke the fire and ride it ouit hopefully. Hoping it's a lot less wild than that.

Skippette · 14-10-2017 9:37pm

Well we have the trampoline down in preparation for Monday but the tv signal is a bit iffy already with the wind.... how do ye think Castlebar will fair out?

Galway1989 · 14-10-2017 9:37pm

Those of us with a sizeable commute to work can tell the boss a tree fell in the driveway so we couldn't get to work. It is negligence to expect people to make it to work if there is a massive storm heading for us. We'll see what happens. I really don't want to be blowing this out of proportion but its not looking good

Bonzo Delaney · 14-10-2017 9:38pm

Cannon_fodder wrote: »

Could be a few spinny tops in North Wall Quay alright on Monday

Out of curiosity is there many tower cranes up around the South coast areas

marno21 · 14-10-2017 9:40pm

Bonzo Delaney wrote: »

Out of curiosity is there many tower cranes up around the South coast areas

I could see a few cranes up in Tralee today from the N21 bypass roundabout!!

There's a crane up on a hilltop between Ballydesmond and Castleisland for wind turbine installation - could be an interesting one

flaneur · 14-10-2017 9:40pm

Galway1989 wrote: »

Those of us with a sizeable commute to work can tell the boss a tree fell in the driveway so we couldn't get to work. It is negligence to expect people to make it to work if there is a massive storm heading for us. We'll see what happens. I really don't want to be blowing this out of proportion but its not looking good

It may well be but one guy I know rang in and was told that if he didn't turn up he'd be facing disciplinary procedures. The boss was really aggressive about how people were 'trying to pull a long weekend'.

You can't assume everyone's appreciating how serious this situation could be.

Oscar Bravo · 14-10-2017 9:42pm

the TAF's tomorrow evening will be very interesting.

aidanodr · 14-10-2017 9:43pm

Widdershins wrote: »

Who originally posted it?

A lot of people are waiting for the official green light r.e cancelling non essential travel...

I got this from an acquaintance on twitter. I looked it up. From METALERT IRELAND. Take it as you will.

https://www.facebook.com/metalertireland/

( will adjust previous post to reflect this )

kub · 14-10-2017 9:45pm

Bonzo Delaney wrote: »

Out of curiosity is there many tower cranes up around the South coast areas

Plenty in Cork city, one is in Cork University Hospital and is above the A&E section of hospital.
I hope it stays up there.

Storm Ophelia - General Discussion/Local reports - See MOD NOTE Post #1

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