The UK and North Atlantic winter storm season have already smashed the record for storms with hurricane force winds, and the season can potentially last another month.
As reported by the NOAA Ocean Predication Center, average wind speeds for the North Atlantic basin were far above normal in January and February, 2014. See http://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/winter-2013-14-already-tops-2012-13-number-hurricane-force-storms
"Blues indicate
areas with wind speeds that were higher than the 1981-2010 average; browns
indicate winds were lower than average. Most of the Northern Hemisphere is
awash with white and muted blues and browns, indicating winds were not
especially different from the long-term average for this time of year. In the
North Atlantic, however, an unusually high number of hurricane-force storms
have left splashes of dark blue off southeastern Greenland, Norway, Europe, and
the western Mediterranean."
"Between the first hurricane-force event of the season on October
25, 2013, and
March 8, the most recent one to date, 43 unique hurricane-force
events have blasted their way across the North Atlantic.
According to NOAA’s Ocean Prediction Center, 20 separate hurricane-force wind events occurred during January through February alone, and 14 of them had low-pressure centers that underwent the rapid intensification that meteorologists call bombogenesis, in which the storm’s central pressure drops by at least 24 hPa in a 24-hour period.
Between October 25, 2013 and March 8, 2014, thirty of them
underwent rapid intensification. The most intense system occurred on December
24, 2013. The pressure in the heart of that storm dropped to 929 hPa as the storm
lurked north and northwest of the British Isles. During January and February, 2014, 8 of the low centers had a central pressure below 950 hPa.
"In
comparison, the hurricane-force storms totals for 2012-2013 were a bit lower, with 41 unique
hurricane-force events between October and April. Only 22 storms had
low-pressure centers that underwent rapid intensification—8 fewer than this
winter to date. Last
year’s (2012-2013) final event occurred on April 19th, 2013.
The Unending UK Storms
Given this year's storm tracks, the UK has been the dominant recipient of these storms impacts. Overall, the period from mid-December 2013 to mid-February 2014 saw at least 12 major winter storms, and, when considered overall, this was the stormiest period of weather the UK has experienced for at least 20 years. The MET office reported on the following storms in its January post:
See http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/2013-decwind
December 5-6, 2013
The 1200 UTC, December 5, 2013 pressure map, showing a deep area of low pressure bringing strong winds to the north-east of the UK.
Analysis chart 1200 GMT 5 December 2013
Maximum wind speeds of 5 to 6 December 2013 varied widely at 60 to 70 kt across Scotland, with Altnaharra (Sutherland) recording a gust of 81 kt (93 mph). The mountain station at Aonach Mor (at an elevation of 1130 m a.s.l.) recorded a gust of 123 kt (142 mph). Gusts also exceeded 60 kt along North Sea and Irish Sea coasts and over 70 kt in the Western Isles.
December 18-19, 2013
The frontal boundary and surface pressures of 19 December, 2013, 0000 UTC depicted a deep area of low pressure to the north-west of Scotland.
Analysis chart 0000 GMT 19 December 2013
This storm brought maximum gust speeds 18 to 19 December 2013 of 60 to 70 kt around exposed coastlines of the north and west, with gusts exceeding 70 kt in the Western Isles, South Wales and South Coast. A gust of 74 kt (85 mph) was recorded at Plymouth and 82 kt (94 mph) at Needles Old Battery (Isle of Wight). Winds reached over 100 kt across the Scottish mountain summits.
December 23-25, 2013
The frontal boundary and SLP map of December 24, 2013,1200 UTC showing an exceptionally deep area of low pressure to the north-west of Scotland. The 927 mb reading is one of the lowest ever recorded for a North Atlantic Winter Storm.
Analysis chart 1200 GMT 24 December 2013
The December, 2013 Christmas Storm brought more winds that gusted at 60 to 70 kt across much of Scotland, the coast of Wales and South Coast of England. A gust of over 100 kt was again recorded across Scotland's mountain summits.
December 26-27, 2013
The surface pressure map of 0600 UTC, December 27, 2013, depicted another deep area of low pressure to the west of Scotland
Analysis chart 0600 GMT 27 December 2013
Large areas of the UK experienced gusting winds of 50 to 60 kt, with the strongest winds around Irish Sea coasts. Aberdaron and Capel Curig (both Gwynedd) recorded gusts of 95 kt (109 mph) and 82 kt (94 mph) respectively, while Cairngorm Summit (1237 m a.s.l.) recorded a gust of 119 kt (137 mph). This last reading is equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane wind speed!
Maximum gust speed 26 to 27 December 2013
December 30-31, 2013
December 31, 2013, 1200 UTC found the UK facing another strong low pressure bringing further strong winds and heavy rain. Fortunately, the winds were not as strong, but the rains were what did greater damage with flooding.
January 3, 2014
January, 2014 began with a continuing series of storms with another area of deep low pressure to the west of Scotland
Analysis chart 1200 GMT 3 January 2014
Maximum wind gust speeds on January 3rd reached 60 to 70 kt around exposed coastlines of the south and west, with 92 kt (106 mph) at Needles Old Battery (Isle of Wight) and 71 kt (82 mph) at Mumbles Head (Swansea).
January 5, 2014
In early January, the focus of concern again shifted to coastal flooding, particularly affecting exposed locations in South West England and South Wales. A large area of low pressure in the north Atlantic, driving strong winds and coinciding with high spring tides resulted in exceptionally high waves affecting coastal communities along the South Coast of England and west coast of Wales. In estuaries, the potential flood risk was exacerbated by high runoff from rivers.
Synoptic situation at 1200 UTC 5 January 2014, with a deep area of low pressure in mid-Atlantic driving very large waves towards western and southern coasts.
Analysis chart 1200 GMT 5 January 2014
The most significant January, 2014 storms occurred 25 to 26 January, 31 January to 1 February, 2014.
January 25-26, 2014
The surface pressure chart for 1200 UTC, January 26, 2014, depicts a deep area of low pressure to the north-east of the UK bringing strong winds and heavy rain to much of the UK.
Analysis chart 1200 GMT 26 January 2014
The map below shows maximum gust speeds 25 to 26 January 2014. Winds gusted widely at 50 to 60 kt around exposed coastlines of the west and north, with 70 kt (81 mph) at South Uist (Western Isles). Taken individually, this storm was notable but not exceptional for the time of year.
January 31 to February, 2014.
The January 31 to 1 February 2014, storm is revealed in the map below, showing another deep area of low pressure over Ireland.
Analysis chart 1200 GMT 1 February 2014
Maximum gust speeds for 31 January to 1 February 2014 varied around 50 to 60 kt along exposed coastlines of the north and west UK - comparable with the storm winds of 25 to 26 January - with 73 kt (84 mph) at Aberdaron (Gwynedd).
February brought no relief for the UK from hurricane-force storms.
Major hurricane force storms occurred on February,4 to 5, 8 to 9, the 12th and 14 to 15.
The photograph below provides some indication of weather impacts experienced from these storms.
This image shows huge waves battering the Cornish coast at Porthleven on February 5, 2014 Photograph: Matt Clark, Met Office
February 4-5, 2014
The February 4, 2014, 1800 UTC map shows another deep area of low pressure to the south-west of the UK bringing the next storm. The analysis charts for sequence of four storms from 4 to 15 February are strikingly similar. With ongoing double storms tracking across the Atlantic,
Analysis chart 1800 GMT 4 February 2014
This storm was more severe across south Wales and south-west England where winds gusted at 60 to 70 kt widely around exposed coastlines. St Mary's Airport (Isles of Scilly) recorded a gust of 80 kt (92 mph) and Berry Head (Devon) 79 kt (91 mph). This storm damaged the South West main line railway at Dawlish.
February 8-9, 2014
Synoptic situation at February 8, 2014, 0600 UTC showing the next storm and deep low pressure system to the west of Ireland.
Analysis chart 0600 GMT 8 February 2014
Wind speeds were comparable with the previous storm and again gusted at 60 to 70 kt around the coastline of south Wales and south-west England, with 80 kt (92 mph) at Needles Old Battery (Isle of Wight).
February 12, 2014
February 12, 2014 chart shows the next storm in the series with a deep low pressure system over Ireland.
Analysis chart 1200 GMT 12 February 2014
Maximum gust speeds February 12-13, 2014. were the most severe of the sequence, particularly for coastal areas of Wales and north-west England where winds gusted at 70 to 80 kt - and a Met Office Red Warning for wind was issued for this region. Maximum recorded gust speeds included 94 kt (108 mph) at Aberdaron, Gwynedd, 83 kt (96 mph) at Lake Vyrnwy (Powys) and 81 kt (93 mph) at Capel Curig (Gwynedd) - close to record values; the highest gust speed on record for North Wales is 97 kt (112 mph) at Aberdaron on 24 December 1997. This was one of the most significant storms to affect Wales and north-west England in recent decades. Most of these gusts were category 1-2 in hurricane strength!
February 14-15, 2014
The last of the major storms affecting the UK occurred February 14-15 2014, and the center of the low pressure system to the south-west of Ireland.
Analysis chart 1200 GMT 14 February 2014
The coasts of south Wales and southern England were affected by the strongest winds, gusting at 60 to 70 kt or higher. Needles Old Battery (Isle of Wight) recorded a gust of 95 kt (109 mph).
Rainfall
This series of storms has produced major rainfall affecting large areas of the UK over the last several months.
The UK MET Office produced the following rainfall anomaly map. To emphasize the exceptional nature of the wet weather, the map below plots rainfall totals for this same 67-day period but as a percentage of the 1981-2010 long term average rainfall for the whole year. Remarkably, much of central southern England, parts of south Wales and eastern Scotland received around half a year's worth of rainfall through this period, with a few locations approaching 75% of the annual average in just over two months.
Finally, the Azores high is beginning to move in place, deflecting recent North Atlantic storms northward - away from the UK. They are finally beginning to dry out, but there will be challenges with lambing season and crop production to still be totaled.
Sources:
MET Office: Winter storms, December 2013 to January 2014
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/2013-decwind
MET Office: Winter storms, January to February 2014
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/interesting/2014-janwind
NOAA Ocean Prediction Center, Cimate.gov: http://www.climate.gov/news-features/featured-images/winter-2013-14-already-tops-2012-13-number-hurricane-force-storms