5 Historical Events

1985 Worst Thunderstorm

The summer of 1985 was pretty abysmal. The mean temperature for September was almost 1
degree warmer than August. The most noteworthy event though occurred on the night of 25th/26th
July. The synoptic situation at midnight showed a shallow low pressure system (1006hPa) off the
south east coast. Pressure was falling slowly as an airflow of continental origin tended to displace the
moist Atlantic air over the country. As a result widespread and spectacular thunderstorm activity
occurred throughout the evening of the 25th and continued overnight. This storm is remembered by
many as the worst in living memory.

Much of the spine of Ireland was affected (from Cork to up to Tyrone/Armagh). Kilkenny was one of the
worst affected. A feature of the storm was a spell of very heavy rain and violent hail of 30/60 mins
duration. This burst arrived in Kilkenny at about midnight. There were frequent cloud to ground strikes
and just when you thought it had passed a new cell arrived and it began again. This continued for
several hours. In all 49.7mm of rain was recorded during the storm and there was much damage to
crops, buildings and many farm animals were killed by the lightning.

Severe Thunderstorm in Budapest

A severe thunderstorm caught Budapest on 20th August 2006, causing havoc during the
celebrations of the National Holiday. Around 1.2 million spectators of the National Holiday fireworks
were hit by storm and hail shortly after the show began at 21:00 local time. Heavy rain and wind-gusts
over 120 km/h uprooted trees, smashed cars and windows and ripped tiles off rooftops. 5 people died
and hundreds injured as a result of the fierce storm.

September 24, 2006 Severe Thunderstorm Event

On the afternoon of Sunday, September 24, 2006, a thunderstorm with supercell

characteristics developed over northern Person county and subsequently tracked 35 miles east
through extreme northern Granville, Vance and Warren counties (loop of the storm's progression
across northern N.C.). Fortunately, the storm was located in sparsely populated areas when it was
most intense. The Kerr Lake Park Office reported the storm snapped 20 trees in half in campgrounds
along Kerr Lake in eastern Vance and western Warren counties. The storm almost certainly produced
large hail and high winds elsewhere in Granville, Vance and Warren counties during its lifetime.
However, due to the fact that rural areas were most affected, no other severe weather reports were
received.

Thunderstorms and Flooding of August 17, 2007

The Black Hills area of western South Dakota has a history of damaging flash floods that have
resulted primarily from exceptionally strong rain-producing thunderstorms. The best known example
is the catastrophic storm system of June 9–10, 1972, which caused severe flooding in several major
drainages near Rapid City and resulted in 238 deaths. More recently, severe thunderstorms caused
flash flooding near Piedmont and Hermosa on August 17, 2007.

Heavy Rainfall of 24th October 2011 in the greater Dublin Area.

On the 24th of October, Ireland was at the centre of a slow-moving frontal depression which
stretched from western France to south of Iceland. A spell of very heavy rainfall occurred, affecting
mainly eastern and northern parts of Ireland, the greater Dublin Area and Wicklow received the most
rainfall. This heavy rainfall combined with high rainfall totals the previous day, lead to a saturation of
soils and flooding occurred in some eastern areas.

IF YOU ARE UNDER A THUNDERSTORM WARNING, FIND SAFE SHELTER RIGHT

AWAY

 When thunder roars, go indoors!

 Move from outdoors into a building or car.
 Pay attention to alerts and warnings.
 Unplug appliances.
 Do not use landline phones.

HOW TO STAY SAFE WHEN A THUNDERSTORM THREATENS

Prepare NOW

 Know your area’s risk for thunderstorms. In most places, they can occur year-round and at any
hour.
 Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio also provide
emergency alerts.
 Identify nearby, sturdy buildings close to where you live, work, study, and play.
 Cut down or trim trees that may be in danger of falling on your home.
 Consider buying surge protectors, lightning rods, or a lightning protection system to protect
your home, appliances, and electronic devices.

Survive DURING
  When thunder roars, go indoors. A sturdy building is the safest place to be during a
thunderstorm.
 Pay attention to weather reports and warnings of thunderstorms. Be ready to change plans, if
necessary, to be near shelter.
 When you receive a thunderstorm warning or hear thunder, go inside immediately.
 If indoors, avoid running water or using landline phones. Electricity can travel through
plumbing and phone lines.
 Protect your property. Unplug appliances and other electric devices. Secure outside furniture.
 If boating or swimming, get to land and find a sturdy, grounded shelter or vehicle
immediately.
 If necessary, take shelter in a car with a metal top and sides. Do not touch anything metal.
 Avoid flooded roadways. Turn Around. Don’t Drown! Just six inches of fast-moving water can
knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.

Be Safe AFTER

 Listen to authorities and weather forecasts for information on whether it is safe to go outside
and instructions regarding potential flash flooding.
 Watch for fallen power lines and trees. Report them immediately.

Quiz

1. A thunderstorm is a storm with lightning and thunder. Its produced by a cumulonimbus cloud,
usually producing gusty winds, heavy rain and sometimes hail.
2. Thunderstorms can occur year-round and at all hours. But they are most likely to happen in
the spring and summer months and during the afternoon and evening hours.
3. Such an instability can arise whenever relatively warm, light air is overlain by cooler, heavier
air.
4. Typical thunderstorm is 15 miles in diameter and lasts an average of 30 minutes.
5. Thunderstorm happen in every state and every thunderstorm has lightning.
6. After: Watch for fallen power lines and trees. Report them immediately.
7. During: Protect your property. Unplug appliances and other electric devices.
8. Before: Cut down or trim trees that may be in danger of falling on your home.
9. During: If indoors, avoid running water or using landline phones. Electricity can travel through
plumbing and phone lines.
10. Before: Know your area’s risk for thunderstorms.