We’re closing this live blog now. Thanks so much for joining us and do stay safe out there.
Three people have been killed as tropical storm Ophelia battered Ireland with winds of more than 100mph. Clare O’Neill was killed when high winds brought down a tree on her car in Aglish, Waterford. Michael Pyke died after an accident with his chainsaw while trying to clear a fallen tree in Ballybrado, Tipperary. Another man, who has not yet been named, died in Ravensdale, near Dundalk, when a tree struck his car.
At least 360,000 electricity customers are without power amid scores of reports of fallen trees and power lines. The network operator warned that the majority of those already affected would be without power tonight and 5% to 10% could be without electricity for up to 10 days. Northern Ireland was also affected, with 18,000 customers suffering a loss of power, including the Stormont parliament.
The force of Ophelia was such that it blew roofs off buildings in Cork. Douglas Community school saw the roof of its gym ripped off and the roof of Cork City football club’s stadium collapsed. A gust of 118mph was recorded off the coast of Ireland.
All schools across the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland are to remain closed on Tuesday as the authorities deal with the aftermath of Storm Ophelia. The decision was taken to “avoid any potential risk to life for children and staff” after severe winds caused widespread damage to the electricity network, structural damage and uprooted trees.
The Met Office has extended an amber weather warning to parts of Scotland, Wales and northern England with winds threatening power cuts and falling debris. A series of flood alerts and warnings are in place for south west and north west England. Planes have been grounded at Manchester airport, with 50 flights cancelled and passengers warned to check ahead before travelling to the airport.
The remnants of the Ophelia hurricane are due to batter the western parts of Scotland from around midnight tonight although effects are already being felt. The Met Office has an an amber warning covering Dumfries and Galloway, Lothian and Borders, and Strathclyde, with winds up to 80mph expected. People are being advised to check weather and traffic reports before travelling, or to stay indoors if possible as the storms begins to make landfall.
Two of the storm’s victims have been named Michael Pyke from County Tipperary and Clare O’Neill from County Waterford.
Pyke was killed after he went to cut up a tree which had fallen on a road in the Ballybrado area. The 31-year-old died at the scene.
Independent politician Mattie McGrath, who knows the family, said:
It’s a devastating tragedy for the family of this young man. They’re a hard-working family and for his life to be taken like that is just shocking. It would bring home to us the dangers of going out into the wind.
O’Neill, who was due to celebrate her 59th birthday tomorrow, was killed after a tree fell on her car near the village of Aglish.
It is believed the oncology nurse and mother of one, who was driving a car with a woman in her 70s in the passenger seat, when the branch of a tree fell on the vehicle and went through the windscreen.
The passenger was taken to University Hospital Waterford with non-life threatening injuries.
Local shopkeeper Richard Hurley, who knew O’Neill, told the Irish Mirror:
She was a very jolly woman, very helpful. It’s a big shock, it’s a miserable morning, a young woman like that in such a tragic accident.
A third male victim died in Ravensdale, Dundalk after a tree struck the car he was in.
The remnants of the Ophelia hurricane are due to batter the western parts of Scotland from around midnight tonight although effects are already being felt.
💨 🌊 ☔ Eeekkk the winds are picking up!#Ophelia is on her way so remember to check before you travel! If possible, stay indoors!
The Met Office has an an amber warning covering Dumfries and Galloway, Lothian and Borders, and Strathclyde, with winds up to 80mph expected. Other parts of Scotland have a lower yellow warning.
Dumfries & Galloway getting the brunt but #Ophelia to spread across West to Central and Southern Scotland. Plan ahead & stay safe https://t.co/6YJuREp5zr
Although the strongest winds are likely overnight they may last into the morning’s busy travel period across the central belt of Scotland and in the north-east of England.
Here is a live animated map showing where Storm Ophelia is now. It is currently heading towards the west coast of Scotland and forecasters have warned that Scotland is “in for a rough night”.
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The residents from Rodgers Quay in Carrickfergus were evacuated out of the complex following fears of tidal surges tonight.
They have been taken to a local council hall for the evening, the PSNI said.
A pub in Carrickfergus has also had to be evacuated tonight. In a tweet from the JD Wetherspoon-owned Central Bar, staff said: “Folks on advice from the PSNI we have had to evacuate the pub due to a possible and I must stress possible storm surge coming up Belfast Lough.
They added: “Stay safe, do not attempt to come to the pub at this time. We will keep you posted.”
People in the Republic of Ireland are being advised that there may be some disruption to health services over the next few days.
Thank you to @AmbulanceNAS - doing us proud today, as always. Whilst we all stayed indoors, you went out to help others in need. Grateful. https://t.co/7EcTK7bcfV
Health minister Simon Harris released a statement asking those who do not have GP or hospital appointments to stay home unless it is urgent.
He said:
I want to thank all those who came to work today and went above and beyond. We do expect some continued disruption over the coming days but we can expect a gradual return to normal services.
The message for tomorrow is if you have an appointment turn up as planned, unless you hear otherwise. The main focus of our community services tomorrow and in the coming days will be dealing with the most vulnerable patients.
I would ask if you don’t have an appointment and if it’s not urgent please don’t attend your GP or hospital.
Locals on Ireland’s most northerly point have braved Storm Ophelia for a first-hand view of its impact on the Atlantic, the Press Association reports.
Two Donegal locals take a selfie at Banba’s Crown, Malin Head as Storm Ophelia hits the UK and Ireland with gusts of up to 80mph. Photograph: Liam McBurney/PA
As the ex-hurricane swept north, huge waves crashed into clifftops and blew the roof off a caravan at Malin Head.
Local man Kevin Farren said:
I was sitting in my house looking out the window when I saw the roof of one of the caravans near us blow clean off. It just got lifted by the storm and blew along.
There are boats all along the pier here which the fishermen haven’t taken in. I’m not sure they’ll still be there when they come back tomorrow.
The wind is always rough here, it’s certainly not the worst we’ve ever seen. Unless things get much worse overnight it won’t have been too bad.
Malin Head previously held the record for the highest wind speed recorded on the island of Ireland at 113mph in 1961.
It is thought that record has now transferred to Cork following Ophelia. Meteorologists with Met Éireann measured winds of 34 knots, or 40mph, at Malin Head as the storm swept over.
Another local, who declined to be named, said he lived nearby but had driven up to the clifftop at Banba’s Crown out of curiosity to see the storm as it passed.
It’s the first time we’ve ever had a red weather warning round these parts, so I came up to see what it would be like. It’s not that different to what we’d be used to the rest of the time because we have strong winds round here all the time as it’s so exposed. I think we’ll be safe enough.
Many businesses in the surrounding area, including shops and cafes, were closed as a precautionary measure following warnings from authorities that people should not make unnecessary journeys.
Trafficwatch NI has an interesting up-to-date figure on how Ophelia is causing chaos on Northern Ireland’s roads tonight. As of 6pm this evening there were 179 fallen trees or branches across the region’s roads.
#Ophelia up to 6pm we have 179 reports of fallen trees / branches in the 4 @deptinfra regions Eastern 48 Northern 30 Southern 83 Western 18
South Down is the area hardest hit by the storm on Monday evening and Trafficwatch NI points out that out of that 179 figure, 83 are roads in coastal parts of the county.
Meanwhile there are now 18,500 customers without electricity due to felled and damaged power lines. And while schools and further education colleges will shut for a second day on Tuesday, both Queen’s University and Ulster University will reopen.
Although the Irish Defence Forces have been deployed through the day to help with flood defences and rescue missions across Ireland one of its units had to cancel training due to Ophelia.
Its 11th Infantry Battalion has had to call off an exercise to prepare them for UN peacekeeping duties in Lebanon. Their mission readiness exercise puts commanders and soldiers through a series of scenarios based on threats in the South Lebanon region.
Troops were to be asked to secure, extract and evacuate personnel involved in a complex attack. However due to the storm, tomorrow’s exercise in the Glen of Imaal has been cancelled.
A charity has warned those with severe asthma to check forecasts and stay indoors where possible to avoid the dust.
Toxic air could be a risk to people with asthma. If you have severe asthma check weather forecasts & stay indoors if possible #Opheliapic.twitter.com/JuvlKIQ0eE
Sonia Munde, head of the helpline at Asthma UK, said:
We are deeply concerned about the toxic air from Saharan dust that Hurricane Ophelia has churned up, as this could pose a severe risk for the 5.4 million people in the UK who have asthma. Winds picking up dust and particles in the air could trigger potentially fatal asthma attacks.
