Storm Darwin hit South west Ireland yesterday, 12th February 2014, with Violent Storm Force Gale 11, gusts of up to 177 kilometres per hour! For 2 hours from about 1pm to 3pm, the wind hammered us.
The roof was blown off the Boat Club in Limerick city.
Windows were blown in on the 4th and 5th floor of the Tax Office in central Limerick.
Trees were blown down all over the county.
250.000 households were without power, a record number, mostly across the southern part of the country.
Roads were blocked. It took people an hour to drive detours, instead of the usual 7km 10 min trip home. Some people had 4hr journeys/waits/detours.
Nobody was killed, thankfully.
When I drove home, it was like mini-Armageddon.
When I got home, I found the garden shed we call the playhouse in a pile on the grass, 6 metres from its base. The trampoline had blown over 2 hedges and was in next door neighbours back garden.
The old dog house was blown to bits. A weeping willow tree was blown over. The fence at the gate was blown over. Flashings from the edge of the roof were pulled off and lay in our lawn and next door.
We had no power and spent last night in darkness, with just the single gas burner to boil water, pasta, etc.
Today, still no power.
Watery sunshine thankfully.
We now have a Boil Water Notice for our area.
I have an upper chest infection, and am wheezing and have laryngitis.
I am at the public library writing this on my way home from the doctor.
Storm nr 9 coming tomoro
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Sunday, February 9, 2014
7 storms in 7 weeks
The weather forecaster tonight said we have had 50% more rain than average since mid December, and that we have had 7 storm systems passing over Ireland in that period also.
Luckily, where we live, we have not been affected by flooding, but there have been many people affected by floods in Lmerick City, 20km away, and more people affected in Cork city, in County Clare, in Galway, and in seaside areas, as well as in many towns with rivers flowing through them... It must be horrendous to have your house or business flooded and to have to clean it all up and try and live in the house again.
Me, I am not a fan of storm force gales, and I sincerely hope we have seen the last of the storms for a while now.
Today I went for a walk, and spotted daffodil shoots coming up, and when I drive past my gran-aunts house I see the snowdrops in full bloom under the hedge.
There are already 3 daffodils in bloom outside a house I pass on my way to school.
I braved the elements last Friday to drive to the other side of Limerick to look at a spinning wheel, and yes, I bought it! 3rd wheel, and the reason I bought is was because it is an Ashford traditional, from circa 1985, and it was in great condition. I was told by an experienced spinner: You can always get an Ashford Traddy to work! It's true, in this case anyway. I had to improvise a drive band with kitchen cotton twine, from tesco, and the wheel needed oiling, but then, she spun just fine for me.
Luckily, where we live, we have not been affected by flooding, but there have been many people affected by floods in Lmerick City, 20km away, and more people affected in Cork city, in County Clare, in Galway, and in seaside areas, as well as in many towns with rivers flowing through them... It must be horrendous to have your house or business flooded and to have to clean it all up and try and live in the house again.
Me, I am not a fan of storm force gales, and I sincerely hope we have seen the last of the storms for a while now.
Today I went for a walk, and spotted daffodil shoots coming up, and when I drive past my gran-aunts house I see the snowdrops in full bloom under the hedge.
There are already 3 daffodils in bloom outside a house I pass on my way to school.
I braved the elements last Friday to drive to the other side of Limerick to look at a spinning wheel, and yes, I bought it! 3rd wheel, and the reason I bought is was because it is an Ashford traditional, from circa 1985, and it was in great condition. I was told by an experienced spinner: You can always get an Ashford Traddy to work! It's true, in this case anyway. I had to improvise a drive band with kitchen cotton twine, from tesco, and the wheel needed oiling, but then, she spun just fine for me.
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