Storm Éowyn, which is set to start battering Ireland with “destructive winds” from this evening, could be the worst storm to hit the country since records began, according to experts. It comes as US ‘Hurricane Hunters’ touched down at Shannon Airport as the country braces for the storm, with Red Status weather warnings extended across every county.
The plane used is from the NOAA, a major meteorological organisation in America. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) ‘hurricane hunter’ aircraft, affectionately named ‘Kermit’, was spotted landing at Shannon Airport.
The Lockheed WP-3D Orion aircraft is crucial for gathering data to help improve hurricane forecasting, especially in regions where traditional radar or satellites can’t reach, the Irish Mirror reports. NOAA’s hurricane forecasting relies on radar, satellites and computer models, but these can miss vital data. As the storm hurtles towards Ireland, plug those gaps, NOAA uses the Orions to gather low-altitude data that helps ensure more accurate storm forecasts.
The research missions will help experts understand “such powerful cyclogenesis.”
The aircraft is complete with state-of-the-art tools to scrutinise the atmosphere, and wind velocity, humidity, temperature and pressure are tracked. Information will then by fed to the National Hurricane Center. There has been some commotion online about the touchdown of the ‘Hurricane Hunters’ in Ireland,
“Nothing says there’s going to be a storm like the arrival of these guys,” one X user said underneath a post by a keen aviation buff.
“OK, so we’ve got one hell of a storm in front of us if the professionals are here to witness it,” another said.
The hurricane hunters plan to fly into the eye of the storm, with the mission, normally reserved for powerful hurricanes, expected to take place off the coast of Ireland with the r aircraft parked at Shannon Airport. They will start their ‘reconnaissance missions’ across the Atlantic within the next 24 hours, flying through the heart of the storm a number of times, before travelling back to the US.
In an update today, Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather shared that the UK Met Office have upgraded Northern Ireland to a Red Warning, meaning the most severe warning now applies to all 32 counties.
Cathal Nolan of Ireland’s Weather Channel says the record for fastest wind speed in Limerick could be broken by winds which are set to reach Ireland within the next 24 hours.
Mr Nolan told Live95Fm that winds near Shannon Estuary in Limerick could reach speeds of 180 or 190 km per hour, with the potential to shatter the current record for fastest winds ever recorded in Ireland. At present, that record is currently held by Limerick, tied with County Donegal.
Mr Nolan said Storm Éowyn is a “generational storm,” noting:
“It’s interesting that Limerick actually is one of the counties tied with Donegal that holds the record for the strongest wind speed ever recorded in Ireland, which was 181 km per hour in Foynes back in 1945.
“And there’s reason to believe that this storm could potentially rival that for the strongest wind speed. And given that Limerick is on a status red warning, it could be that we see winds in certain parts of Limerick near the Shannon Estuary probably, where we see wind speeds again approaching 180, 190 km per hour.”
Mr Nolan added: “The wind speeds that we’re seeing from all of the weather models are really sobering for meteorologists, and we can’t stress enough that this is going to be a major weather event, and please do heed the warnings”.
As Ireland prepares to face “destructive winds,” it has been confirmed that across the country, all schools and third-level institutions will be closed on Friday. There will also be no public transport operating while the red level warning is in place.
The UK Met Office is forecasting wind speeds on the west coast of Ireland on Friday morning gusting at between 161 and 191km/hour – which would be the most severe wind speeds since Storm Debbie hit Ireland in September 1961, when winds of 182km per hour were recorded at Malin Head.
WHEN WILL THE RED WARNING START IN MY AREA?
From 9pm on Thursday night, a Status Yellow rain warning has been issued for Cork, Kerry and Waterford, with heavy rain expected, “leading to localised flooding.”
From 2am to 10am on Friday, a Status Red wind warning is in place for Cork, Kerry and Limerick, bringing severe gusts and “danger to life.” A Status Orange wind warning is in place for Ireland from 2am on Friday until 5pm on Friday evening.
In Clare and Galway, a Status Red wind warning will remain in place from 2am to 12 noon on Friday, with a Status Red wind warning also issued for Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo from 4am on Friday to 12 noon.
In Dublin, Cavan, Monaghan, Kildare, Longford, Laois, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Roscommon and Tipperary, a Status Red wind warning will be in place from 6am on Friday to 12 noon. Meanwhile, a Status Red wind warning will remain in place in Donegal from 6am to 3pm this Friday.