Story highlights Hurricane Ophelia is a Category 2 storm as it sets its sights on Ireland

It is a fast-moving storm that is farther east than any other major hurricane

(CNN) Hurricane Ophelia continued moving east toward Ireland on Sunday as officials there announced school closings, prepared for flooding and planned for power outages.

Ophelia's position is the farthest east that a major hurricane has traveled in the Atlantic.

The previous record was held by Hurricane Frances in 1980, according to CNN meteorologist Haley Brink. Frances formed off the northwest coast of Africa near Senegal, according to an archived National Hurricane Center report. Frances never made landfall.

Ophelia has accelerated on its way to the United Kingdom, moving at 38 mph, the hurricane center said in its 5 p.m. ET advisory. Though the hurricane is expected to weaken at landfall on a predicted path to Scotland, the center's message remained the same.

"Preparations to protect lives and property should be rushed to completion by this afternoon," an earlier Sunday advisory said.

11am (1500 UTC) Key Messages on #Ophelia. Strong winds and heavy rain likely over Ireland and the UK beginning Monday morning. pic.twitter.com/KEovIGbAV3 — NHC Atlantic Ops (@NHC_Atlantic) October 15, 2017

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