Displaying items by tag: Violent Storm 11

23rd January 2024

Storm Isha Was One Notch Away from 'Hurricane Force' in the Irish Sea - With Little Respite as Storm Jocelyn Sweeps In

It was so stormy on the Irish Sea during Storm Isha that the shipping forecast had put the weather conditions just one notch away from being categorised as hurricane force, it has emerged.

While on land, Storm Isha interrupted electricity supplies to about 50,000 residential customers and businesses, in addition numerous roads had been made impassable to motorists due to debris and fallen poles and trees.

One motorist died as a result of a collision with a collapsed tree.

Flights mainly at Belfast City Airport, located on the south side of Belfast Harbour, saw a large number cancelled and with some air-planes diverted. While on the Irish Sea, ferry firm Stena Line which was operating the E-Flexer class Stena Estrid was forced to circle off Belfast Lough for several hours as Afloat tracked before it could approach the Ulster coast and berth at the port.

According to the UK’s Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) which told the News Letter, that the shipping forecast at the time indicated conditions up to and including “violent storm 11” on the Beaufort Scale.

This weather system which is a kind of maritime Richter Scale, is used to estimate the severity of wind strength and wave heights.

"It only goes up to 12,” said Ian Graham of the MCA, adding that such a state is “unusual” and he added the next stage up from “violent storm 11” on the Beauford scale is “hurricane”.

More here on the weather successive storms.

Published in Belfast Lough

Tagged under

Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.