Hurricane Ophelia facts for kids

Hurricane Ophelia (also called Storm Ophelia in the United Kingdom) was a strong tropical cyclone that formed in the Atlantic Ocean in October 2017. It was a very unusual storm because it traveled much farther east than most Atlantic hurricanes. Ophelia affected countries like the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France. It was the tenth hurricane in a row and the sixth major hurricane of the 2017 hurricane season.

Ophelia formed on October 9, 2017. It grew very strong, reaching what is called Category 3 status. This means it had very fast winds, making it a major hurricane.

Sadly, Hurricane Ophelia caused some deaths and a lot of damage. The storm led to three direct deaths. The total damage from the storm was more than $70 million USD.

The storm's effects were also felt in other countries, including Russia, Norway, and Finland.

What was Hurricane Ophelia?

Hurricane Ophelia was a type of storm known as a tropical cyclone. These storms form over warm ocean waters. They have strong winds and heavy rain. Ophelia became a major hurricane, which means its winds were extremely powerful. It reached Category 3 on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. This scale helps us understand how strong a hurricane is based on its wind speed.

How did Ophelia form and grow?

Ophelia started as a small area of low pressure on October 9, 2017. It slowly got stronger as it moved across the Atlantic Ocean. It became a tropical storm and then a hurricane. What made Ophelia special was that it kept getting stronger even as it moved into colder waters, which usually weakens hurricanes. It reached its strongest point with winds of about 115 miles per hour (185 km/h).

Where did Ophelia travel?

Most Atlantic hurricanes move west towards the Americas. But Ophelia took a very unusual path. It moved east and then northeast across the Atlantic. This path brought it close to Europe. It was the first hurricane since 1939 to travel so far east and still be a hurricane when it got close to Europe.

What damage did Ophelia cause?

When Ophelia reached Ireland and the United Kingdom, it was no longer a hurricane. It had changed into a powerful post-tropical storm. Even so, it still brought very strong winds and heavy rain. These strong winds caused widespread power outages, meaning many homes lost electricity. Trees were blown down, and some buildings were damaged. The storm also caused large waves along the coasts. The total cost of the damage was estimated to be over $70 million.