Analysis: We can learn from the impacts of past storms to better adapt to the destructive effects of future storms
We know the drill by now. A new storm is forecast to reach and impact Ireland. You are paying attention and focused on staying up to date with the forecast and weather warnings, enabling you to make informed decisions to prepare and stay safe. You are attentively listening to the latest updates transmitted via radio, television, internet or social media by Met Éireann and planning accordingly.
You may want to make a quick visit to the nearest shop and pharmacy to gather food (especially a sliced pan) and medication supplies. You will want to secure and protect your property and valuables before the storm affects Ireland. If you are a farmer, you will want to ensure the safety and well-being of livestock. If you are volunteering with a charity, you will want the most vulnerable groups within your community to be informed of potential impacts and safeguarded.
Naming storms has increased public awareness of the impacts associated with storms, the significance of emergency planning in reducing the vulnerability of communities and infrastructure, and the importance of enhancing resilience. Severe storms are a significant source of considerable socio-economic and environmental impacts in Ireland.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime, Dr Gerard McCarthy from Maynooth University on how extreme storms could become a more frequent aspect of weather patterns in Ireland
These destructive storms are typically associated with tropical storms or hurricanes crossing the North Atlantic, By the time they reach Ireland, they are known as extratropical storms or ex-hurricanes, but they can still be powerful and destructive. Indicators to characterise storm intensity include the registered air pressure, as well as wind speed, impacts, and the area affected. Therefore, there is a broad interest in understanding the potential effects of climate change on the frequency and intensity of storms in the North Atlantic.
The intensity and impacts of Storm Éowyn in January 2025 are still vivid in everyone's minds. Communities suffered extended power outages, disruption of communications and extensive structural damage. During Storm Éowyn, Met Éireann says the highest sustained (10-minute mean wind speed) was registered as 142 km/h in the hour ending 04 UTC, and the highest gust (3-second mean wind speed) was recorded as 184km/h at 04:40 UTC. Both occured at the Mace Head station on January 24th 2025, highlighting the remarkable intensity of this storm.
Other unforgettable severe storms with major impacts in Ireland were Ex-Hurricane Debbie on September 16th 1961, Ex-Hurricane Charley on August 25th 1986, Ex-Hurricane Stephen on December 26th 1998, Storm Darwin on February 12th 2014, or the Ex-Hurricane Ophelia on October 14th 2017. According to Met Éireann, record extremes were registered in a few of these storms. For example, the highest gust in September (181km/h) was recorded at Malin Head during Ex-Hurricane Debbie on September 16th 1961. The same station registered 178km/h during Ex-Hurricane Stephen on December 26th, the highest gust in December in Ireland.
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From RTÉ Archives, Conor Fennell reports for RTÉ News on damage across the country caused by Hurricane Charley in 1986
Were there any major storms in Ireland in the distant past? What can we learn from the impacts of historical storms to reduce vulnerability and increase resilience to future storms in the context of climate change? Ireland has a rich heritage of instrumental and documentary sources, allowing the analysis of how storm intensity and frequency have been affected by climate change.
Regarding documentary sources, the various Irish Annals contain the oldest records of storm descriptions and impacts in Ireland. One of the earliest remarks to a 'great wind' dates back to AD. January 563 as reported in the Annals of Ulster.
Although this list is not exhaustive, examples of notes on ‘great wind’ are mentioned in diverse Annals such as in the years 685 (Annals of Tighernach), 815 (Annals of Ulster), 856 (Annals of Ulster), 867 (Annals of Ulster), 891 (Annals of Ulster, Chronicon Scotorum), 921 (Annals of Inisfallen), 987 (Annals of Tighernach), 1035 (Annals of Inisfallen), 1060 (Annals of Inisfallen), 1076 (Annals of Inisfallen), 1121 (Annals of Ulster, Annals of Four Masters, Annals of Kilronan), 1137 (Annals of Kilronan, Annals of Four Masters), 1146 (Annals of Four Masters), 1178 (Annals of Ulster), 1220 (Annals of Inisfallen), 1324 (Annales Hiberniae), 1330 (The Annals of Ireland), 1360 (Annales Hiberniae), 1363 (Annales Hiberniae), 1477 (Annals of Four Masters) and 1491 (Annals of Ulster, Annals of Four Masters).
Ireland has a rich heritage of sources, allowing the analysis of how storm intensity and frequency have been affected by climate change
Additionally, diverse monographs, such as Statistical Surveys of various counties, referred to a ‘great’ or ‘violent’ storm in the years 1666, 1670, 1698, 1739, and 1763. Adding to the non-exhaustive account of remarkable storms, weather diaries and, namely, newspapers also highlighted the frequency, intensity and impacts of storms across Ireland in the years 1756, 1757, 1781, 1789, 1798, 1799, 1802, 1822, 1838, 1839, 1840, 1843, 1850, 1859 (Royal Charter Storm), 1876, 1884, 1893, 1902, 1903 (Storm Ulysses) or 1927, for instance.
What significant storm impacts are described by these documentary sources? Severe impacts include localised flooding (namely when storms are associated with heavy rain), as well as wave overtopping and coastal flooding, which is intensified in the case of high spring tides and storm surge, shipwrecks, loss of lives, infrastructure damage, dispersed debris and loose objects, fallen trees and loss of timber, destroyed crops, landslides, increased coastal erosion, disrupted communications, power outages, or the closure of business, services and schools, for example.
Let's look at a few cases from the historical record of severe storms. The Annals of Four Masters reported a storm in December 1121, which caused great destruction of trees throughout Ireland. The same source notes the destruction of houses, fallen trees, and loss of cattle and human life caused by a storm in 1137.
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From RTÉ Archives, Kevin McDonald reports for RTÉ News in 1989 on the 150th anniversary of the night of 'The Big Wind', which raged across the country on January 6th 1839
The storm of November 28th 1838 was described by the Southern Reporter and Cork Commercial Courier as a "dreadful and destructive storm" with intensity increasing at "half-past one, however, a hurricane, which for violence and duration, has never been exceeded in this district, came on, and continued with unabated violence until 8 o'clock, p.m., when there was a partial cessation". There are remarks on business suspended and flooding as "streets were inundated in many parts to the height of 5 and 6 feet. The Grand Parade, South Mall, Patrick-street, and those passing North and South, were entirely covered. At Hammond’s Marsh, the water was 6 and 8 feet deep".
One of the most impactful storms on record was well described in anecdotal accounts, such as newspaper reports and folklore material, which took place on January 6th and 7th 1839, and is known as the 'Night of the Big Wind’ or Oíche na Gaoithe Móire. The Kilkenny Journal, and Leinster Commercial and Literary Advertiser of January 16th 1939 narrated the grandiosity associated with the intensity and impact of this storm as follows "Ireland has been the chief victim of the hurricane – every part of Ireland, every field, every town, every village in Ireland has felt its dire effects, from Galway to Dublin – from the Giant’s Causeway to the island of Valentia. It has been, we repeat it, the most awful, the most extraordinary calamity of the kind with which people were ever afflicted."
John Boyle took meteorological observations at Carrickfergus for the Ordnance Survey and described the storm. ‘On the 6th about 10 P.M. a gale commenced which rose to a perfect hurricane in a couple of hours, and continued until between 3 & 4 o’clock of the morning of the 7th. The storm will be long remembered in this country as it committed mass devastation amongst trees and caused more injury to houses than any on record’.
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From RTÉ Radio 1's History Show, a look at the Night of the Big Wind (Oíche na Gaoithe Móire) in January 1839
It was a different time without electrification, mobile phones or the internet to convey a warning message. You can imagine how people were scared and taken by surprise as they woke up in the middle of the night to fierce roaring wind speeds and extensive destruction. There were no weather forecasting or early warning systems then to alert the population to prepare for better protection from the storm's impacts before it hit Ireland with no mercy. The more fortunate and curious individuals may have had a barometer and noticed a drop in air pressure.
The death toll and damage caused by this storm were considered exceptional. Various newspapers detailed the distress and destitution of the poor communities throughout Ireland. For instance, the Kilkenny Journal, and Leinster Commercial and Literary Advertiser of January 9th 1839 narrated the heartbreaking sight of people "digging in the ruins of their cabins to rescue whatever they could from destruction". Many dwelling houses in Loughrea Co. Galway were burned down as the flames were impossible to control due to the violence of the storm, according to the Galway Patriot of January 9th 1839. The Pilot of the same date stated that "neither poor nor rich have escaped without more or less injury".
On January 13th 1843, A. Graham, observer at Markree Observatory, recounted his barometer observations during the storm to the Editor of the Sligo Journal. "At half-past 5 yesterday afternoon the barometer read 28.847 inches, at half-past 5 this morning the reading was 27.886 inches: exhibiting a fall in 12 hours of nearly one inch! The minimum height seems to have been at half-past 6, when the reading was 27.877 inches. It will be interesting to ascertain whether the change has been merely a local one".
From British Pathé, footage after destructive storms in Dublin in 1925
Storm Ulysses, on February 16th 1903, was another event with devastating impacts across Ireland. To illustrate, the Evening Irish Times of February 28th reported great damage to property and over 1,000 fallen trees at Phoenix Park, which resembled a battlefield in its dramatic scenery. The storm of October 28th 1927 is linked with the Cleggan Bay disaster, causing the death of 45 fishermen off the coast of Cleggan.
Ireland has a rich heritage of barometer observations, with the earliest record dating back to 1676, with additional early records were registered in the 18th century. Despite the early instrumentation, barometer observations remain essential for understanding the intensity of historical storms and reconstructing their trajectories. The lowest recognised air pressure in Ireland (931.2 hPa) took place during the storm of November 28th 1838 at Adare Abbey in Limerick, which was initially registered as 27.49 mercury inches.
Storm impacts have highlighted the urgency to reduce vulnerabilities, enhance the emergency response and increase resilience. It is crucial to learn from the impacts of historical storms to better adapt to the destructive effects of future storms in the context of climate change.
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The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
