Extreme Weather Event – Giant Wave Impact: Ireland

Natural Hazard  – Extreme Weather Event – Giant Wave Impact

Extreme weather warnings have been issued for 16 and 17 January 2015 as a powerful 250mph jet stream and two Atlantic weather systems bring winds of up to 90mph and high surf to the UK. Photo: Met Office

Europe  –  Ireland | Coastal Regions, Counties Cork and Kerry
Location: 51°32’59.9″N 8°42’14.2″W 
Damage Level: unknown
Human Deaths: unknown

Giant Wave Impact in Ireland on Friday, 16 January, 2015 at 04:37 (04:37 AM) UTC.

A wave more than twice the size of a two story house was detected in Irish waters this morning. The wave, which is the second highest on record, was measured at the M3 Cork/Kerry buoy. The average Significant Wave Height at the buoy has been over 6m this month, making it a period of unusually high seas. But today, at 10:00am a wave measuring 16.9m (55 ft) was detected. Met Eireann reports that this is the second highest wave on record at the buoy behind the 19.1m (63 ft) wave recorded on January 27th 2013.

Source: RSOE EDIS

See: Earth Wind Map

Media Analysis:

‘Storm Rachel’ gathers pace as wind gusts up to 150km/h expected
Severe weather warnings as 90mph winds forecast to hit UK

Related Background:

Winter storms, December 2013 to January 2014
From mid-December to early January, the UK experienced a spell of extreme weather as a succession of major winter storms brought widespread impacts to the UK.