Ophelia's Teeth...

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A few days ago, the news here mentioned a little-known Tropical Storm, called Ophelia, that was tracking its way eastwards across the warm Atlantic towards a spot between the Azores and the Canary Islands. A hurricane, heading towards Ireland? Never since meteorological records began in this part of the world, some 200 years ago, have we heard of such a thing! On Sunday evening, this now-downgraded ex-hurricane Ophelia, called Ex-Ophelia in many news broadcasts (Mr. Spock rather sexily raised a Vulcan eyebrow at that one!), tracked inexorably towards the south-western coast of Ireland. Late Sunday night, the Irish Meteorological authority, Met Éireann, announced a Red status for strong winds in excess of 65mph (105kph) for several of the south-westerly counties of Ireland - hospital admissions were put on-hold, schools closed and court appearances postponed in those counties. Early Monday morning, the Red status had been extended to cover all remaining counties in Ireland, and shortly thereafter, the Northern Ireland authorities announced closure of schools and tertiary education establishments in the 6 remaining counties - the entire island of Ireland was on varying degrees of lockdown. Now, 12 hours later, after returning home at noon so I was not stuck away from home by the possible closure of the longest bridge in Ireland (and one that I cross twice daily to and from work!) due to high winds... I sit here, listening to the wind howling around the house, whistling over the chimney and generally battering the hedges and trees and bushes in the garden, and I wonder: at what point will the lights go out? The epicentre of the storm is now passing to the north-west of the most northerly county in Ireland, Donegal, on its way across the Atlantic towards Scotland. The anti-clockwise rotation of the storm is also making its effects felt in the Irish Sea, between Ireland and the larger island of the UK, Great Britain - the main sea-coast roads in the eastern counties of Down and Antrim have been closed to prevent storm surges washing vehicles into the sea. Even Wales, to the south and east of Ireland, is feeling the effects of these gusts, as they burst over 85mph, 140kph, and threaten to batter the Welsh coastline. Over 18,000 homes are without electricity tonight in the 6 counties of Northern Ireland, and the 26 counties that constitute the Republic of Ireland have more than 20 times that number affected, along with three people, in separate incidents, killed as a result of falling or fallen trees. It's only a matter of time, now that the authorities in Northern Ireland have stated that schools and colleges of further and higher education are also to be closed on Tuesday, 17-October 2017. The crocodile has bared its teeth - let us hope everyone stays home tonight, safe and protected from Ophelia's snap!