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30th Oct 2018

Ex-hurricane Oscar could be on its way to Ireland this week

Rudi Kinsella

Ex-Hurricane Oscar

Don’t worry, there is no Storm Deirdre on the horizon.

Ireland could be hit by an ex-hurricane called Oscar later as wintry weather continues to make its presence felt.

Speaking to JOE, a spokeperson for Met Éireann claimed there was a chance that Ireland could feel the effects of the ex-hurricane later this week and into the weekend.

Ex-hurricane Oscar is currently brewing over the Atlantic Ocean, more specifically in the space between Iceland and Scotland, but is expected to make an impact closer to these shores on Friday, according to Met Éireann.

Over the weekend, a number of media reports claimed that Storm Deirdre could be about to wreak havoc throughout Ireland this week, but a Met Éireann spokesperson told JOE that no such storm exists, at least not yet.

The current forecast for Friday reads: “Moderate to fresh and gusty southeasterly winds, strong to near gale in the coastal fringes, will veer southwesterly on Friday night with further spells of occasionally heavy rain. Overnight lows of 12 to 14 degrees Celsius.”

Oscar being named as an “ex-hurricane” does not mean that it is less dangerous, and should be treated just as seriously.

According to Met Office, the difference between a hurricane and an ex-hurricane is the eye of the storm is that some of the core characteristics of a hurricane are not present, such as the location from where the winds come from.

It means that what we consider to be the core characteristics of a hurricane are not present in Ophelia. This includes the famous eye that, while appearing eerily calm to those within it, hides the brute force of the hurricane winds that surround it.

Met Éireann expect to provide further updates on the forecast for the coming days on Tuesday evening.

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