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Ophelia is bringing record-breaking gusts of nearly 200km/h to Ireland

Roofs are being blown off, trees are being uprooted and electricity wires are being damaged as Ophelia batters Ireland.

OPHELIA SUMMER COVE 758A7114_90526713 Ophelia attacking the coast at Summercove outside Kinsale in Cork Eamonn Farrell / Rollingnews.ie Eamonn Farrell / Rollingnews.ie / Rollingnews.ie

IRELAND IS BEING hit by record-breaking winds today, as Storm Ophelia makes its way through the country.

Trees are being uprooted, electricity lines disrupted and roofs being blown off across Ireland since Ophelia first made land in Kerry this morning.

At Roche’s Point in Cork this morning, Met Éireann observed mean wind speeds of 111km/h with gusts of up to 156km/h. The fastest gust recorded so far was 191km/h at Fastnet Rock in Cork.

Images being shared across social media show the damage being done by the storm.

Met Éireann has said that these gusts will stay consistently strong as Ophelia makes its way northward, and will often exceed 150km/h in places:

The strongest winds are on the eastern and southern flank of Ophelia’s low pressure centre. The heaviest rain is on the north-western and western flank. To the east of the path of the storm centre winds will back south-easterly ahead of its passage north, veering south-westerly behind it.

In Carlow Town, meanwhile, gusts are already exceeding 100km/h.

Met Éireann has issued a status red weather warning for Ireland, saying Storm Ophelia is likely to be the most severe weather event to hit the country in over 50 years.

The National Hurricane Center in the US has said that counties Galway, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal will be the worst affected.

Gardaí have urged all motorists and the public not to make any non-essential journeys. They advise people not to cycle whatsoever.

All schools and colleges across the country are closed, and the HSE has cancelled all hospital outpatient appointments which were due to take place today.

Read: Ex-Hurricane Ophelia is currently battering Ireland. Here’s what you need to know

Read: LIVE: ‘A matter of life and death’ – Updates as Storm Ophelia rips through Munster

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15 Comments
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    Mute The Girl
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    Oct 16th 2017, 2:53 PM

    Do people need to be advised not to cycle? I guess common sense isn’t as common after all.

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    Mute Matthew O'Kane
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    Oct 16th 2017, 4:00 PM

    @The Girl: saw one guy this morning cycling without using his hands on the road anything for a selfie

    14
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    Mute Declan Gargan
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    Oct 16th 2017, 3:38 PM

    Simon and Garfuncle

    Ophelia, your braking my heart
    your shaking my chimney badly

    Ophelia, I’m down on my knees
    I’m begging you please to feck off

    Ophelia, your braking my heart
    your shaking me whole house sadly

    Ophelia, I’m dragging my knees
    I’m begging you please to go home

    Making Zzz’s in the afternoon
    with Ophelia bursting my bedroom
    I got up to wash my face
    when I went back to bed
    ’twas in a new place

    Ophelia, your braking my heart
    your shaking my street now strangely

    Ophelia, where are my knees
    I’m begging you please
    to feck off, just feck off!

    No no no no no
    No no no no no no no no
    Pick it up pick it pick it up

    36
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    Mute john Appleseed
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    Oct 16th 2017, 4:37 PM

    @Declan Gargan: second time you’ve typed that tripe but you still didn’t figure out how to spell breaking.

    28
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    Mute cyril.1
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    Oct 16th 2017, 3:16 PM

    Much to do about nothing strong breeze here have seen much worse ie hurricane Charlie in 1986 was much more destructive

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    Mute Ricky McCabe
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    Oct 16th 2017, 3:04 PM

    Trump will arrange anything for a bit of distraction .

    15
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    Mute Ciarán
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    Oct 16th 2017, 2:49 PM

    Always a few idiots down in Galway, Not a brain cell between them.

    136
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    Mute Matthew O'Kane
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    Oct 16th 2017, 4:01 PM

    @Ciarán: what they up to surfing, walking on the beach?

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    Mute Ó Connmhaigh
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    Oct 16th 2017, 3:00 PM

    Bloody Brexit….

    21
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    Mute Marie Gunbay
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    Oct 16th 2017, 3:30 PM

    So many selfish idiots out there still swimming, walking dogs and walking along seafronts/proms with children and animals…….despite the warnings. Do these people not realise that our rescue services are volunteers with families. Unbelievable….Even the animals have more sense and have taken cover. Have not seen any birds about in the past few hours…..birds who have miniscule brains compared to some stupid selfish human idiots.

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    Mute Matthew O'Kane
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    Oct 16th 2017, 3:59 PM

    @Marie Gunbay: yup very selfish well said

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    Mute Matthew O'Kane
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    Oct 16th 2017, 3:57 PM

    heard about the waves being high but now to see the photos, seeing is believing shocking weather

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    Mute James McGee
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    Oct 16th 2017, 3:28 PM

    Bloody Russians

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    Mute Matthew O'Kane
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    Oct 16th 2017, 3:58 PM

    @James McGee: rofl

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