HomeUK Storms › Storm Ophelia
Archive Cat 4 · Severe

Storm Ophelia

16 October 2017 · 2017-18 season · named by Met Eireann · Ireland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Scotland

119 mphmax gust
21flood warnings & alerts
3UK deaths
Ex-Hurricane Ophelia struck Ireland under a nationwide Met Eireann red warning, producing Ireland's highest-ever recorded gust of 119mph at Fastnet Rock, killing three and cutting power to around 360,000; impact was overwhelmingly destructive wind, not flooding.

Flood footprintstorm total

0severe warnings
3flood warnings
18flood alerts
18areas
10counties
7rivers & seas

Worst-hit areas

  • North Devon Coast from Hartland Point to Lynmouth3
  • Lune Estuary2
  • Chiswell1
  • Christchurch Harbour1
  • Coast from Gretna to Silloth1
  • Coast from Silloth to St Bees1

Counties

  • Dorset Council6
  • Bournemouth3
  • Christchurch and Poole3
  • Cumberland3
  • Devon3
  • Cornwall3

Rivers & seas

  • English Channel7
  • Bristol Channel4
  • Irish Sea3
  • North Cornwall Coast3
  • Lune estuary2
  • North Sea1

Flood mapthe storm's flood footprint

Red/amber rings mark rivers that reached or came close to their own high level during the storm — the most direct evidence of likely flooding (the gauge measures the river, not any one property). Solid dots mark each flood area's reference point, coloured by the most severe warning raised there — a warning means flooding was expected. Shaded shapes are the Environment Agency's recorded flood outlines: land actually observed flooded, published retrospectively (updated quarterly). England data only.

The rainstorm-total by gauge

GaugeTotal mm
Honister 58.6
Ennerdale Black Sail 57.4
Seathwaite Farm 53.8
Mickleden Middle Fell Farm 33.2
Brotherswater 32.0
Ennerdale Starling Gill 28.8
Ennerdale 28.4
Dale Head 27.4
Wet Sleddale 26.8
Thirlmere St Johns Beck 26.2
High Row 25.4
Burnbanks 23.4

The riverspeak vs warning level

StationPeak% of warning
Clifton Hall · River Mease 5.52 m 373%
Ashford in the Water · River Wye 1.86 m 248%
Brookhouse Farm · Ford Green Brook 2.27 m 239%
Wensor Bridge, Shelton · River Devon 4.04 m 237%
Mansfield The Dykes · River Maun 2.13 m 213%
Bardsey · Bardsey Beck 3.34 m 186%
Riseley · River Kym 1.05 m 150%
Viking Recorder · River Ouse 2.80 m 147%
Lodore · Derwentwater 1.93 m 138%
Day Brook · Day Brook 1.19 m 125%
Cononley · River Aire 1.28 m 121%
Far Sawrey · Windermere 1.18 m 118%

Gauge records cover 15–17 October 2017 (the storm window ± a day). Frozen 3 Jul 2026.

Storm Aileen All UK storms Storm Brian

FloodRadar compiles Environment Agency warning history, gauge data and public reporting. It is not an emergency service and does not replace official flood warnings — always follow official guidance during a storm.