The latest view of Ophelia from Met Eireann.
Things are still fairly quiet here in Fermanagh, but please don’t be complacent folks, as Ophelia is due to arrive here sometime after lunch.
With schools across the county closed, after the Department of Education issued eleventh hour advice last night, many businesses in Fermanagh have remained shut this morning also, while Enniskillen Magistrates Court is due to end at 12.30 today. Fermanagh and Omagh District Council have urged people to stay away from wooded areas.
The dark yet quiet weather currently in the county may lure people into a false sense of security, but pleased be advised that conditions will deteriorate this afternoon, so please do not travel unless you have to, and check on your neighbours before the winds pick up.
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
The Met Office this morning brought forwards its amber alert warning to 12pm, however it stated this is to take in South Wales, which is also expected to be hit now. They office said Ophelia is still due to hit Fermanagh in the afternoon, with predictions the storm will peak locally at approximately 2-3pm remaining in place. Met Eireann’s red alert warning for the entire country remains in place.
Thousands of homes in the south of the country are already without power, with Ophelia making landfall earlier this morning. While the storm is expected to weaken before reaching Fermanagh, make sure you have a torch and candles to hand just in case.
Keep up to date with both Met Eireann and the Met Office for updates on Ophelia’s course.
Here’s the last 24 hours of satellite imagery from Hurricane #Ophelia when it was a Category 2. Now an Ex-hurricane with destructive winds pic.twitter.com/zsNPXJDmj2
— Met Office (@metoffice) October 16, 2017
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