Lois Larson
Hurricane Ophelia was a Category 2 hurricane that battered the UK and Ireland with gusts of up to 95mph in 2017. The storm caused travel disruptions, power cuts, and damage to buildings and transport. Manchester Airport was affected, with footage capturing planes struggling to land and flights being diverted due to smoke smells. The Met Office issued severe weather alerts and warnings of potential power cuts, damage to buildings, and disruption to transport, including air travel.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 16 October 2017 |
| Location | Manchester Airport, UK |
| Impact | Flights delayed or cancelled, trees uprooted, transport disrupted, power cuts, damage to buildings, danger to life from flying debris, obstruction on rail lines |
| Wind Speed | Gusts of 32-80 mph |
| Warnings | Yellow weather warning, severe weather warning, thunderstorm warning |
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What You'll Learn
Manchester Airport disruptions
Overview
Hurricane Ophelia, which was downgraded to a storm by the time it hit the UK, caused disruptions to transport services in Manchester, including at Manchester Airport. The storm brought strong winds, with gusts of up to 80 mph, and heavy rain, leading to fallen trees and power lines, travel delays, and cancellations.
Rail Services
Rail services to and from Manchester Airport were disrupted due to fallen trees and overhead power line damage. Services between Manchester Airport and Wilmslow were affected, with delays of up to 30 minutes and some cancellations. Disruptions were expected to last for several hours, with National Rail initially estimating a resumption time of 11 pm.
Air Travel
Manchester Airport experienced significant disruptions due to strong crosswinds, with footage capturing planes struggling to land and being knocked from side to side. Some flights were diverted due to reported "smoke smells". Hundreds of flight delays and cancellations occurred across the UK and Ireland, with particular impact at Dublin Airport.
Road Travel
Road travel in Manchester was impacted by fallen trees and debris, including a tree blocking the A6 near Denby Lane in Heaton Chapel. Warnings were issued for potential road closures and longer journey times due to fallen trees and flying debris, which could also cause damage to buildings and vehicles.
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Damage to buildings and infrastructure
Hurricane Ophelia in 2017 was the most eastern Category 3 hurricane ever studied by satellite. It was regarded as the worst storm to affect Ireland in 50 years and was also the easternmost Atlantic major hurricane on record. The hurricane caused severe winds and heavy rain, resulting in widespread power outages and damage to buildings and infrastructure.
In Ireland, three people were killed as a direct result of the storm. A man died in Ravensdale, Dundalk, after a tree struck the car he was in. Another man in his 30s was killed in a chainsaw accident while attempting to remove a fallen tree in Cahir, Co Tipperary. A woman in her 50s also lost her life when a tree hit her car near the village of Aglish in Waterford.
In Greater Manchester, the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia brought strong winds of up to 80 mph, causing damage to buildings and infrastructure. Concrete cladding was ripped from a building in the Northern Quarter. Fallen trees blocked roads and rail lines, causing significant disruption to transport services, including delays and cancellations of flights and trains. A tree falling on overhead electrical wires near Wilmslow disrupted services between Manchester Airport and Wilmslow, affecting passengers with cancellations and delays of up to 30 minutes.
The storm also impacted other parts of the UK and Ireland, causing hundreds of flight delays and cancellations. Aer Lingus cancelled all flights from Cork, and over 200 flights were cancelled across Irish airports. The storm's behaviour sparked discussions among meteorologists about the influence of climate change on hurricane patterns and trajectories.
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Travel warnings and cancellations
Hurricane Ophelia, which was downgraded to a storm by the time it hit the UK, caused travel warnings and cancellations across the country. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning, which was upgraded in Northern Ireland to an amber warning. The storm caused damage to buildings, trees were uprooted, and roads were blocked by debris. There were also power cuts and disruption to transport and mobile phone signal.
The Foreign Office issued a travel warning urging British citizens to leave the affected areas. The Met Office warned that road, rail, air, and ferry services would likely be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations. Specifically, they warned that roads and bridges might close, and there could be damage to buildings, with tiles blown from roofs, and danger to life from flying debris.
There were hundreds of flight delays and cancellations across the UK and Ireland. Aer Lingus cancelled all flights from Cork, and footage from Manchester Airport showed planes struggling to land in the strong winds. There was also disruption to train services, with some cancellations and delays of up to 30 minutes.
The storm caused the deaths of three people in Ireland. A man died when a tree struck the car he was in, another man was killed in a chainsaw accident while trying to remove a fallen tree, and a woman died when her car was hit by a tree.
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Impact on nature and wildlife
Hurricane Ophelia in 2017 was the most eastern Category 3 hurricane ever studied by satellite. It did not make landfall but the weather system it generated had a significant impact on the Azores and Europe. In Ireland, three people were killed, and the storm was considered the worst to hit the country in 50 years.
The impact of hurricanes on wildlife can be grouped into seven major areas, with effects coming from both wind and water damage. The effects of Hurricane Ophelia on nature and wildlife were as follows:
- Wind and waves broke coral, damaging it or forcing it onshore and disrupting the ocean ecosystem.
- Fish and benthic organisms faced turbulent conditions due to waves and wind.
- Dunes and beaches lost stabilizing plants and sand, displacing dune-nesting birds and their nests.
- Flooding caused by storm surges and heavy rain/flash flooding.
- Uprooting of trees, which could cause further structural damage and block roads.
- Fallen trees could also disrupt electrical wires, causing blackouts.
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Response from authorities
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for Greater Manchester, warning that road, rail, air, and ferry services may be affected. Power cuts may also occur, with the potential to affect other services such as mobile phone coverage. The Met Office has also warned of damage to buildings, including tiles blown from roofs, which could lead to injuries and danger to life from flying debris.
The chief forecaster for the Met Office has stated that strong winds will continue throughout Tuesday, with winds as strong as 50-60 mph in the north of England and Scotland. A yellow weather warning for wind is in place between midnight and 3 pm, with winds expected to ease by the early afternoon.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has advised UK citizens to be on heightened alert, warning of toppling trees, travel chaos, and the risk of injury from flying debris. The NHC has also stated that residents in Ireland and the United Kingdom should monitor the progress of Ophelia for the next several days.
Prime Minister Theresa May has spoken to her Irish counterpart, Leo Varadkar, to offer support to affected areas.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Manchester Airport was affected by Hurricane Ophelia.
Hurricane Ophelia caused disruption to transport services to and from Manchester Airport, including trains and flights.
Yes, there were flight delays and cancellations at Manchester Airport due to the hurricane. Live webcams showed planes struggling to land at the airport.
Yes, there were disruptions to train services to and from Manchester Airport due to fallen trees and overhead electrical wires.
No mentions of injuries at Manchester Airport were found. However, there were reports of three people killed in Ireland as a result of the storm.
