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AS YOU MAY have heard, we’re likely in for some stormy weather on Monday as the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia pay a glancing visit to Ireland.
Met Éireann issued a preliminary warning yesterday – and while the track of the storm is far from certain, strong winds, heavy rain and high seas are threatened.
For the last few winters, forecasters in Ireland and Britain have been using a new storm-naming system to alert people to extreme weather events.
In light of that fact, more than a few people have taken to Twitter in recent days to ask whether the ex-hurricane would be christened with a new name over on this side of the Atlantic.
Marcus Badger / TwitterIf this hits the uk will it get a uk/Ireland storm name as well or will we use ophelia?
— Dr (of rocks) Marcus Badger (@climate_badger) October 11, 2017
The question cropped up in TheJournal.ie‘s offices too.
Met Éireann’s head of forecasting Gerald Fleming helpfully provided this answer:
Under the protocols agreed with the UK Met Office, an ex-tropical cyclone which has been named by the National Hurricane Centre in Miami (which is the specialised centre designated by the WMO [World Meteorological Organisation] for Atlantic hurricane forecasts) will retain its name if it transitions into a severe mid-latitude storm that affects Ireland or Britain.
So – Ophelia will remain Ophelia…
In case you were wondering, the storm, had it developed in the Atlantic and not already been named by the Americans, would have been called Brian.
Brian may well still be unleashed on the country – but we’ll have to wait a little longer.
(For an actual weather forecast click here).
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Stormy Mc Stormface
Literally nobody was thinking: “Hmmm – I wonder if Ophelia will get a new name on this side of the Atlantic “
@Ryan Boyle: Literally only the twitter user quoted in the above article that you literally didn’t read.
@Larry Doyle: I read none of it.
Jesus, don’t anger it. Don’t mind them Ophelia, it’s a very pretty name
@Conor Mc Lysaght: don’t listen to the scientology crowd. Please take your medicine!
@Monty Donotno: Are you….. wagging me?
Not an “ex hurricane” at the moment. It’s a strong cat 2 and is about to be upgraded to a cat 3. Will weaken obviously by the time it reaches us but still…. She’s gonna be blowy.
@Ger: lies!
Hes not the Messiah. He’s a very naughty boy. Classic!!
@Lee Mac Eoghain: Welease Woger!!
Thank you,whoever ,for not using the name Brian !the name is struggling as it is .
If even the tail end of it will be strong we could re – christen with “I feel ya.”
Who cares
Bit of rain and wind ‘ it’s an everyday occurrence
Ffs somebody might get offended if we change the names.
Snowflakes
Hurricane Dan Joe would be my pick
It could maintain Hurricane force when it hits Ireland according to someone here.
https://twitter.com/rahmstorf/status/918901028732461058
@Padraig: our waters are way too cold for Hurricanes….
She’s currently a Cat 2 with warmer water all the way up to the coast of Spain it maybe might reach Cat3
If the track stays the same – obviously the waters off Ireland are cooler but that doesn’t give it a lot of time to loose power – won’t be fun I’d say Monday morning
Fanny Fartstorm
Ffs slow news day
Rename the storm fast before donal scraps the national hurricane centre
Who gives a Sh*t. Let’s worry about the event instead of its naming convention.
Please to help me with my rucksack?
have your say