On Saturday, October 15, 2017, Hurricane Ophelia strengthened to Category 3 status making it the first recorded eastern hurricane to be this strong. The Copernicus Sentinel-3A satellite captured this image of Hurricane Ophelia located 1300 km southwest of the Azores islands and some 2000 km off the African coast.
NASA’s Suomi NPP satellite captured Hurricane Ophelia on October 13, 2017 with sustained winds of 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour as it nears the Azores. It is unusual for a hurricane to form and stay in the Eastern Atlantic.
Ophelia is expected to weaken to a tropical storm by the time it reaches Ireland.
Ireland is preparing for gale force winds to batter the island Monday morning. Wind gusts could reach 130 kph (80 mph) and 2 to 3 inches of rain are expected. Tidal surges are expected in coastal areas along Ireland and Scotland.
View the video about Hurricane Ophelia:
More:
Hurricane Ophelia, European Space Agency, October 11, 2017
http://www.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2017/10/Hurricane_Ophelia
Hurricane Ophelia, NASA, October 13, 2017
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=91125
Hurricane Ophelia, National Hurricane Service
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at2+shtml/145012.shtml?cone#contents
Update on Storm Ophelia issued at 6pm Sunday October 15th, Met Éireann
http://www.met.ie/news/display.asp?ID=455
See Also
- Tracking Hurricane Harvey with Satellites
- This Hurricane Formed Farther East Than Any Other Since Satellites Began Tracking Hurricanes
- How to Explain Hurricanes to Kids
