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'A significant risk to life': Storm Ophelia could have a 'sting jet' with winds of 100km/h

Sting jets get their named from the ‘sting in the tail’ of clouds.

Met Office - Learn About Weather / YouTube

THE MOST POWERFUL storm to hit Ireland in 50 years is closing in on the country and it’s being reported that the storm has developed a ‘sting jet’ – bringing winds of up to 100km/h.

The storm was downgraded from a hurricane in the early hours of this morning, but forecasters are still warning that it will be the most severe weather event to hit the country in over 50 years, and people are being urged to avoid all non-essential travel.

The latest satellite imagery of Storm Ophelia shows what looks to be a developing sting jet on the southeast side the storm, according to meteorologists.

A sting jet is a meteorological phenomenon associated with rapidly developing mid-latitude storms.

The last time a sting jet touched down in Ireland and the UK was 30 years ago to this day during the Great Storm of 1987. It brought with it winds of 115 km/h.

Sting jets get their named from the ‘sting in the tail’ of clouds that is produced as a storm wraps around the centre of an area of low pressure, according to the UK’s Met Office.

A sting jet is usually the most damaging winds of a storm, sometimes reaching speeds of over 100 km/h.

A sting jet will start three or four kilometres above the ground and descends over three or four hours.

“Although the strongest winds occur for only a short period of time in a very small area, perhaps only thirty miles across, they can cause significant damage and risk to life,” the Met Office said.

Speaking to the TheJournal.ie a forecaster from Met Eireann said:

It’s likely to hit the west coast, probably the Galway and Connacht area. The winds will become cyclonic and then westerly, whereas the strongest sustained winds will be along the side coasts, coming into Cork now.

Read: LIVE: ‘A matter of life and death’ – Updates as Storm Ophelia rips through Munster

More: Travel main points: Several train, bus and Luas services suspended

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    Mute Henry Matthews
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    Apr 9th 2017, 4:48 PM

    Seriously lads…I have a great sense of humour…I really have…but I just really really don’t find this funny ..not on any level …

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    Mute A H
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    Apr 9th 2017, 7:10 PM

    @Henry Matthews: That makes you just fine
    Henry. Unless you’ve become saturated into American shoite no one with any decent sense of humour in this country would find that funny.

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    Mute Philip Mc dermott
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    Apr 9th 2017, 7:36 PM

    @A H: in fairness I find it funny I live in the states myself and I get the joke here, but Saturday night live overall I don’t find very funny.

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    Mute Jack Cassady
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    Apr 9th 2017, 7:39 PM

    @Henry Matthews:
    About as funny as that other idiot Jason Byrne.

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    Mute Henry Matthews
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    Apr 9th 2017, 9:13 PM

    @A H: a lot of American comedy doesn’t travel well. ..it seems to be that if you have a rabid hatred of trump you have to find snl funny…go figure ..

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    Mute Dub_Right
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    Apr 9th 2017, 4:36 PM

    Brilliant stuff, hilarious! You’d almost think Trump and O’Reilly were brothers! ;-)

    SNL and Baldwin are doing a better job at “Making Trump great” than the real one!

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    Mute Mark Mcloughlin
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    Apr 10th 2017, 2:42 PM

    @Dub_Right: OMG what a saddo you must be to think this is anyway funny, did you actually watch this on your own accord??

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    Mute Ricky Spanish
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    Apr 9th 2017, 4:39 PM

    His Bill O’Reilly impression is absolutely brilliant…Far better than his Trump one which has become a bit dull.

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    Mute Paddy Ryan
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    Apr 9th 2017, 5:12 PM

    @Ricky Spanish: The Trump one’s only still there because it winds up Trump..

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    Mute Goldberg
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    Apr 9th 2017, 5:07 PM

    The Charlie Brooker take on Fox News presenters is worth a look on YouTube

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    Mute Séamus Longshanks
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    Apr 9th 2017, 5:24 PM

    The Americans really don’t know what comedy is. Pathetic and boring.

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    Mute Larry Doyle
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    Apr 9th 2017, 6:00 PM

    and SAD?

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    Mute Paul Mc Manus
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    Apr 9th 2017, 7:37 PM

    Well that was shisheeeeeeeeeee…..

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    Mute Anthony Ross
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    Apr 9th 2017, 7:19 PM

    Trump is a super bozo

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    Mute Jack Cassady
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    Apr 9th 2017, 4:29 PM

    Awful idiot Baldwin.

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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Apr 9th 2017, 4:52 PM

    @Jack Cassady: Does he offend, your dear leader?

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    Mute Mark Mcloughlin
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    Apr 10th 2017, 2:43 PM

    @Stephen murphy: Highly doubt Trump is bothered. Its brutal and only an idiot would find it funny. Makes sense why you like it I guess

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    Mute Shane Kinsella
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    Apr 10th 2017, 1:57 PM

    Nope, not funny at all.

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