AS winds pick up around Tralee coming up to 9am, there are a few trees down already in south Kerry.
A tree was down at Cahir NS near Kenmare (R569) but has since been removed. A tree was down on the Killarney to Barraduff road on Barraduff side and another by the the tunnel on Moll’s Gap (Kenmare-Killarney) road. There’s a fallen tree on the N71 Ring of Kerry near Gortamullen, Kenmare according to AA Roadwatch.
A tree is blocking the Milltown to Ballyhar road. Some 1,600 people in the Killarney area are also without power.
The US National Hurricane Centre downgraded Ophelia to a post-tropical cyclone in an advisory sent at 4am Irish time, saying the storm is moving to the north at 70km/h.
However, Kerry and the rest of the country will experience hurricane-force winds during the day and people are advised to stay indoors.
According to the latest update from Met Eireann at 9.10am this morning, “Ex-Hurricane Ophelia is forecast to track up over western parts of Ireland during daytime today. Violent and destructive gusts of 120 to 150 km/h are forecast countrywide. These over Munster and south Leinster this morning, will extend quickly to the rest of the country this afternoon. Also heavy rain and storm surges along some coasts will result in flooding. There is a danger to life and property.”
