Commuters warned as storm nears
COMMUTERS were today being warned to remain on alert as Storm Ophelia was due to sweep in this afternoon and into the early evening rush hour.
Remnants of the hurricane will reach Britain’s west coast later this afternoon, with gusts of up to 80mph forecast – almost exactly 30 years after the Great Storm of 1987 which killed 18 people.
Travel operators were monitoring the situation with flights in parts of the country already grounded.
Planes have been grounded at Manchester Airport, with 20 flights cancelled and passengers warned to check ahead over travel plans.
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Commuters may be able to make a claim following the delays and are asked to keep a hold of tickets.
In Ireland, Met Eireann has issued a “status red” weather alert for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Cork and Kerry.
Met Office forecaster Luke Miall said that while storms with these wind speeds tend to happen at this time of year, the one on its way is “quite a substantial system”, and he would describe it as “pretty exceptional”.