2015–16 UK and Ireland windstorm season

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The 2015-16 UK and Ireland windstorm season is a series of severe windstorms affecting the United Kingdom and Ireland in 2015, following the decision to start naming storms.

Background[edit]

Earlier in 2015, the Met Office of the UK and Met Éireann of Ireland announced a pilot project to name wind storms and asked the public for suggestions.[1] The full list of names for 2015, common to both the UK and Ireland, chosen for future selection are:[2]

  • Abigail
  • Barney
  • Clodagh (unused)
  • Desmond (unused)
  • Eva (unused)
  • Frank (unused)
  • Gertrude (unused)
  • Henry (unused)
  • Imogen (unused)
  • Jake (unused)
  • Katie (unused)
  • Lawrence (unused)
  • Mary (unused)
  • Nigel (unused)
  • Orla (unused)
  • Phil (unused)
  • Rhonda (unused)
  • Steve (unused)
  • Tegan (unused)
  • Vernon (unused)
  • Wendy (unused)

A storm will be named when it is deemed able to potentially cause "substantial" impact on the UK or Ireland.

They will be taken from the list, in alphabetical order, alternating between male and female names. This is the same naming convention as that used for tropical cyclones in the US. Where weather events result from ex-tropical storms or hurricanes the original name allocated by the United States' National Hurricane Center will be used.[1]

Storm Abigail[edit]

Abigail
Abigail Nov 12 2015 1155Z.jpg
MODIS image of Abigail on 12 November 2015
Type Extratropical cyclone
Formed 7 November 2015[3]
Dissipated 15 November 2015[4]
Lowest pressure 964 millibars (28.5 inHg)[5]
Highest gust 84 mph (135 km/h)
(South Uist, Outer Hebrides)[6]
Power outages 20,000[7]
Areas affected Western Canada, Eastern Canada, Northern Europe
Main article: Storm Abigail

Abigail was the first storm to be officially named (jointly) by the Met Office and Met Éireann on 10 November 2015.[8][1] It brought high winds, rain, lightning, and wintry showers across the north and northwest of Scotland.[9]

The path Storm Abigail took from Canada, over the North Atlantic and over the UK
Warning Force Information
Amber 11 "Be prepared" weather warning was issued on 11 November for the Western Isles, north west Highlands, parts of Argyll and Orkney. A yellow "be aware" warning was applied to the rest of Scotland.[10]

Storm Barney[edit]

Barney
Barney Nov 17 2015 1215Z.jpg
MODIS image of Barney on 17 November 2015
Type Extratropical cyclone
Formed 16 November 2015
Lowest pressure 980 millibars (29 inHg)[11]
Highest gust 85 mph (137 km/h) (Aberdaron)[12]
Power outages 26,000[13]
Areas affected Ireland, United Kingdom

Barney was the second storm to be officially named on 16 November 2015.[14] It affected Ireland, Wales, southern and eastern England and the Midlands where thousands of homes lost power and rail services were disrupted.[15][16]

Warning Force Information
Yellow 11 "Be aware" warning for wind has been issued for Wales, along with southern, central and eastern England, with gusts of 70–80 mph expected on 17 November 2015.[17]
The path Storm Barney took over the UK

Beaufort Scale[edit]

Main article: Beaufort scale

The Beaufort scale is used in the Shipping Forecasts broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in the United Kingdom, and in the Sea Area Forecast from Met Éireann, the Irish Meteorological Service. Met Éireann issues a "Small Craft Warning" if winds of Beaufort force 6 (mean wind speed exceeding 22 knots) are expected up to 10 nautical miles offshore. Other warnings are issued by Met Éireann for Irish coastal waters, which are regarded as extending 30 miles out from the coastline, and the Irish Sea or part thereof: "Gale Warnings" are issued if winds of Beaufort force 8 are expected; "Strong Gale Warnings" are issued if winds of Beaufort force 9 or frequent gusts of at least 52 knots are expected.; "Storm Force Warnings" are issued if Beaufort force 10 or frequent gusts of at least 61 knots are expected; "Violent Storm Force Warnings" are issued if Beaufort force 11 or frequent gusts of at least 69 knots are expected; "Hurricane Force Warnings" are issued if winds of greater than 64 knots are expected.

Beaufort Wind Scale
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Calm Light Air Light Breeze Gentle Breeze Moderate Breeze Fresh Breeze Strong breeze Near gale Gale Strong gale Storm Violent Storm Hurricane Force
Light Winds High Winds Gale-force Storm-force Hurricane-force
<0.7 mph
<0.6 knot
<0.3 m/s		 0.7–3.4 mph
0.6–3 knot
0.3–1.5 m/s		 3.4–7.4 mph
3–6.4 knot
1.5–3.3 m/s		 7.4–12.2 mph
6.4–10.6 knot
3.3–5.5 m/s		 12.2–17.9 mph
10.6–15.5 knot
5.5–8 m/s		 17.9–24.1 mph
15.5–21 knot
8–10.8 m/s		 24.1–31 mph
21–26.9 knot
10.8–13.9 m/s		 31–38.4 mph
26.9–33.4 knot
13.9–17.2 m/s		 38.4–46.3 mph
33.4–40.3 knot
17.2–20.7 m/s		 46.3-54.8 mph
40.3–47.6 knot
20.7–24.5 m/s		 54.8–63.6 mph
47.6–55.3 knot
24.5–28.4 m/s		 63.6–72.9 mph
55.3–63.4 knot
28.4–32.6 m/s		 ≥72.9 mph
≥63.4 knot
≥32.6 m/s

See also[edit]

Portal icon Scotland portal
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References[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 2015–16 UK and Ireland windstorm season.
  1. ^ a b c "Met Éireann and the UK Met Office release list of winter storm names". Met Éireann. 10 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2015. 
  2. ^ "Nigel and Steve among new storm names". BBC News. Retrieved 10 November 2015. 
  3. ^ Weather Prediction Center (2015). "North America Surface Analysis 7 November 2015". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 16 November 2015. 
  4. ^ Ocean Prediction Center (2015). "East Atlantic Surface Analysis 12Z 15 November 2015". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 17 November 2015. 
  5. ^ Ocean Prediction Center (2015). "East Atlantic Surface Analysis 00Z 13 November 2015". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 17 November 2015. 
  6. ^ "UK Storm Centre: Abigail". The Met Office. 16 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015. 
  7. ^ BBC (2015). "Storm Abigail: All power supplies 'to be restored overnight'". BBC News. Retrieved 16 November 2015. 
  8. ^ "Met Office officially names Abigail as first storm". Met Office. Retrieved 10 November 2015. 
  9. ^ "Storm Abigail: First of Met Office's named storms to batter Scotland". BBC News. Retrieved 10 November 2015. 
  10. ^ "Storm Abigail: Weather warning upgraded to amber". BBC News. Retrieved 11 November 2015. 
  11. ^ Ocean Prediction Center (2015). "East Atlantic Surface Analysis 12Z 17 November 2015". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 17 November 2015. 
  12. ^ "Storm Barney highest wind speeds". Met Office. 
  13. ^ "Storm Barney: Thousands still without power after 85mph winds". BBC News. Retrieved 18 November 2015. 
  14. ^ "Storrm Barrney". Met Office. The Met Office. Retrieved 16 November 2015. 
  15. ^ "Republic of Ireland: 15,000 homes still without power after storms". BBC News. Retrieved 18 November 2015. 
  16. ^ "Storm Barney: Thousands still without power after 85mph winds". BBC News. Retrieved 18 November 2015. 
  17. ^ "Barney Warning". BBC. BBC. Retrieved 16 November 2015. 
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