Hurricanes In Ireland Could Be The New Normal

There's another hurricane brewing out in the Atlantic. But this one — named Ophelia — isn't headed to the U.S. No, this one appears to be headed to Ireland.

It's pretty weird: Only one storm on record has ever made landfall in Ireland as a hurricane — Hurricane Debbie in 1961.

But here's the thing, that might not be that uncommon for much longer. A 2013 study found that global warming could make hurricanes in Western Europe a more regular occurrence.

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That's because as the climate changes, the area where hurricanes can develop in the Atlantic is pushed eastward. The farther east the area, the more likely it is that a hurricane could make its way to Western Europe.

Ophelia will likely be a post-tropical storm by the time it reaches Ireland. But those can still do massive damage. In 2006, the remnants of Hurricane Gordon left over 120,000 people without power.