THE sky above Britain turned yellow today after a red sun was created by fatal Hurricane Ophelia.

The gales pulled Saharan dust north to the UK to create a blanket of orange cloud, with the deadly storms also bringing powerful 80mph winds - killing three people.

44 The sky over central London is turned orange as the remains of Hurricane Ophelia whips up dust from the Sahara desert Credit: London News Pictures

The layer of thick dust brought an eerie glow across the sky and turned the sun red as Hurricane Ophelia killer winds picked up dust and debris southern Europe and Africa.

As well as sparking fears of an apocalypse, there were health concerns this afternoon as the thick blanket of dust swirling in the sky posed a risk to people with breathing difficulties and the elderly.

Met Office forecaster Grahame Madge said: "It's all connected with Ophelia, on the eastern side of the low pressure system air is coming up in the southern direction.

"Air is being pulled from southern Europe and Africa and that air contains a lot of dust.

44 The sun turned from orange to a golden yellow colour as the dust swept over the UK Credit: Getty - Contributor

44 Saharan dust travelled 2,000 miles to cover Britain in an orange dusting Credit: London News Pictures

44 A plane flies past the Shard in central London, as the sky takes on an unusual orange colour caused by Storm Ophelia Credit: PA:Press Association

44 A thick dust of cloud has covered the UK after dust from southern Europe and the African Sahara sweeps across Credit: Alamy Live News

44 The orange dust began to fade as dark clouds covered the UK towards the end of the afternoon in Canary Wharf Credit: Reuters

44 Stunned onlookers took photos of the unusual sight in Canary Wharf Credit: Reuters

44 Planes continued to fly overhead as the Saharan dust travelled across the UK Credit: Reuters

44 The sky went very dark - forcing motorists to switch on their headlights - as the hurricane's remnants dragged in air and dust from the Sahara Credit: AP:Associated Press

"So it's most likely the appearance of sunset at midday is caused by the particles scattering the light and giving the appearance of a red sun.

"It's certainly spectacular at the moment and quite a talking point, we've had a lot of calls about it."

Dubbed the "hurricane sun", the unusual sight has been spotted by those on the south coast.

The most affected areas in the South West include Devon, Cornwall, Bristol and Somerset. It has even been seen as far north as Manchester and Liverpool.

44 The bright red sun has been caused by the tail end of Hurricane Ophelia Credit: Rex Features

44 A blood red sun has been seen over parts of the UK as dust from the Sahara swept across the country today Credit: Alamy Live News

44 Dust from the Sahara has been thrown into the air causing a red sun overlooking Sheerness Docks Credit: Solent News

44 The hurricane sun seen over the bell tower spire in Malmesbury, Wiltshire today Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

44 A man struggles through high winds on Severn Beach near Bristol Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

44 Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

44 Brits were stunned by the spooky yellow sky Credit: Alamy Live News

44 The Shard can be seen lit up by the eerie yellow-tinged sky Credit: Alamy Live News

44 People on London's streets could be heard likening the sky to a sci-fi film Credit: Alamy Live News

A woman in her 70s was crushed by a falling tree as the 80mph storm hit Britain on October 16 - forcing Ireland to declare a "national emergency".

Then later a man in his 30s died in a freak chainsaw accident in Cahir, Co Tipperary after trying to remove a tree downed by storm Ophelia, gardai said.

The death toll rose again when a man died when a tree fell on his car in Ravensdale, Dundalk.

Up to 120,000 homes were without power, schools have been closed, fallen trees blocked roads and bridges were shut after Hurricane Ophelia hit the UK mainland.

44 Made in Chelsea star Hugo Taylor shared a photograph of the sky, saying it was mysterious Credit: Instagram

44 Made in Chelsea's Millie Mackintosh shared a photograph of the stunning yellow sky Credit: Instagram

44 TV personality Bobby Norris called the sky 'sepia' Credit: Instagram

44 Ronan Keating warned a storm was coming, adding 'batten down the hatches' Credit: Instagram

44 Iconic London landmarks were blanketed in yellow Credit: Splash News

44 A tourist takes a selfie with the yellow landscape behind her Credit: Splash News

44 St Paul's was just one of the famous London landmarks shrouded in yellow Credit: Splash News

44 A plume of dust brought from the Sahara Desert has landed on cars in the UK Credit: Twitter/@paul_mcdonnell1

44 A car parked in Birmingham is seen with red dust on its roof today Credit: Caters News Agency

Remnants of the hurricane battered Britain's west coast on Monday afternoon, with gusts of up to 80mph, exactly 30 years after the Great Storm of 1987 killed 18 people.

Flood warnings were also put in place along the Pembrokeshire coast with fallen trees blocking some roads.

Planes have been grounded at Manchester Airport, with 20 flights cancelled and passengers warned to check ahead.

Ireland was braced for the worst of the weather, with schools closed and around 130 flights cancelled at Dublin airport.

WHAT TO EXPECT: Five day weather forecast for the next five days TONIGHT The forecast is expected to remain wet and windy in the north and west. According to the Met Office, strong winds will gradually move from Northern Ireland and Wales into Northern England and Scotland. TUESDAY Northern England, Northern Ireland and Scotland will be wet and windy. But the winds and rain will ease throughout the day. Some rain could reach the south later in the day. WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY The rain and wind is expected to drive south by Wednesday. But the tumultuous weather is not expected to ease up, with Friday expected to be "unsettled with showers".

44 Credit: Twitter

44 Credit: Twitter 44 Credit: Twitter

44 People joked on Twitter about the impact that the red sun would have on their commute home Credit: Twitter

44 Others joked that the red sun phenomenon was part of Blade Runner 2049's marketing Credit: Twitter

44 People used sci-fi scenes to illustrate what it felt like in London with the strange red sun Credit: Twitter

44 Portsmouth was also affected - with people jokingly comparing it to Star Wars Credit: Twitter

44 People joked that they had spotted the Death Star in the stormy sky Credit: Twitter

44 And the Star Wars comparisons kept coming Credit: Twitter

44 People joked that an Instagram filter had been put over London Credit: Twitter

44 Others referenced the desert in Mad Max: Fury Road as they joked about the yellow sky Credit: Twitter

44 A spooky coloured sky over Brading Downs on the Isle of Wight Credit: Sienna Anderson - Soul/pictureexclusive.com

44 Despite the seemingly thick cloud a brilliant red sun shines through over the river Dart at Dartmouth today Credit: SWNS:South West News Service

One flight caught the attention of social media, with the aircraft's impressive landing in the strong winds earning the pilot praise.

Schools and colleges were closed in Northern Ireland, which is covered with an amber weather warning, meaning there is a "potential risk to life and property".

The warning is issued when forecasters believe people need to be prepared to change their plans and protect themselves from the impacts of severe weather.

Forecasters warned of flying debris, such as tiles blown from roofs, as well as large waves around coastal districts with beach material being thrown on to coastal roads, sea fronts and properties.

Cork City's stadium was struck by the strong winds, with their Turner's Cross home demolished.

Ferocious winds were filmed reeking havoc on the stadium.

44 The midday sun appears through heavy dark clouds over Liverpool Credit: Mercury Press

44 North Somerset residents across parts of Britain woke up to an orange glow as the country was bathed in a 'hurricane sun' Credit: Apex News

44 Huge waves strike the harbour wall and lighthouse at Porthcawl, south Wales, as Ophelia hits the UK Credit: AFP or licensors

44 The unprecedented storm reeked havoc Credit: AFP or licensors

Latest on Hurricane Ophelia DUST TO DUSK How Saharan dust and Portugal's wildfires turned the sun red over the UK RED OCTOBER Why the red sun and yellow sky may return today - thanks to Hurricane Ophelia THE RAINMAKER The latest on Hurricane Ophelia after the storm wreaked havoc in the UK BREATHING FIRE Urgent health warning as red sun caused by Ophelia could return TODAY STORM IN A TEACUP? Man's hilarious Twitter rant about 'normal' Hurricane Ophelia THE FORCE OF NATURE Star Wars fans stunned after 'two suns' are spotted in UK sky WAS IT SAHARA DUST? Dozens of flights forced to divert after 'smoke smell' fills cockpits 'IS THE WORLD ENDING?' 'Apocalyptic' yellow sky and red sun sends Twitter into a frenzy Live Blog DEATH BLOW Hurricane Ophelia live updates as Atlantic storm begins to batter Ireland 'I'M SPINNING AROUND, MOVE OUTTA MY WAY' Hurricane Ophelia gets mock Twitter account

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