AS the island of Ireland braced itself for the arrival of Hurricane Ophelia, many social media users have been commenting on graphics showing the storm stopping at the border.
A map posted by the Weather Network in the US drew criticism after it showed Met Eireann's 'Status Red' weather warning covering all of the Republic while the north remained green:
Looks like border controls are working already...That #Ophelia one must be a unionist. #PartitionistHurricane
— Naomi Long MLA (@naomi_long) October 16, 2017
Seriously, keep safe xx pic.twitter.com/c9hVAiggHL
Due to #Brexit, #Ophelia will not enter Northern Ireland until the British Gov. puts forward a suitable solution on cross-border travel. pic.twitter.com/LT8X3w8T6j
— Dara de Brún (@DaraDeBrun) October 15, 2017
You will be okay if u get over the border. #Ophelia being stopped by hard #Brexit border pic.twitter.com/hMmWfRi75U
— Micheal O'Rourke (@morkedata) October 16, 2017
In response to queries about the apparent lack of storm action north of the border, the Met Office tweeted: "Met Eireann warnings are threshold based & our warnings are impact based so slightly different.
"We are constantly monitoring the situation and will update if deemed necessary."
Authorities also faced criticism after posting late last night on social media that all schools in the north had been advised to close today. The Northern Ireland Executive first issued advice via Twitter at 10.22pm:
@Education_NI has announced that all schools should close tomorrow (Monday 16 October) as precautionary measure in light of weather warnings
— NI Executive (@niexecutive) October 15, 2017
The tweet was met with users asking if schools would definitely be closed:
How will we know if our school makes this decision to close?
— Clare Edwards (@whinknowe) October 15, 2017
This tweet is causing considerable concern. Neither principals or chairs (me) have been informed. Michelle, is it genuine?
— Brian Harper (@colliedoggie) October 15, 2017
Can we have clarification on "should close" if its a recommendation only why is it posted on a public forum leaving uncertainty?
— Andrew McCreery (@andymccreery) October 15, 201
The late decision came hours after authorities in the Republic had announced all schools would be closed there. Ahead of last night's announcement from the north's education department, users were commenting on the fact that all schools south of the border would be closed:
Schools five mins down the road from my child's school will be closed tomorrow because of Storm Ophelia. But we're grand in the North?
— Claire Allan (@ClaireAllan) October 15, 2017
All schools and colleges closed south of the border tomorrow..no Assembly no leadership up north #Ophelia
— Stephen (@robbiebangor64) October 15, 2017
