⚠️ Storm Éowyn - Fri 24.01.25 (**Please read Mod Instruction in OP.**)

This is a question for the knowledgeable types of here. Were there any reports or evidence of tornados or whirlwinds forming in this storm. I have seen a mini "tornado" form in a hurricane and remove the fence line and every object in its path behind the house I was staying in . There were local media reports of many mini tornadoes at the time.

Would this account for the sometimes straight line paths of destruction we have seen and the fact that some trees are snapped in half while a very short distance away weak structures like old farm sheds damaged in storm Darragh are untouched. Or is this something normal in severe storms?

I think there has to have been a sting jet or mini tornadoes or something. Parts of Longford were hammered while other areas hadn't much impact at all, and the strongest gusts recorded at the nearest stations in the area were 100-110kmh which, while unusual for the location, would not do the damage that was done there.

I would imagine that is due to a "domino effect". Once one tree falls onto the next it will cause much more force for the "recipient" tree both due to the extra weight and now they are essentially two trees taking the wind force but with only one trunk standing. This tends to happen in a straight line along the direction of the wind. The first trees to fall are usually on poor roots due waterlogged or rocky ground, and the chain reaction spreads downwind.

I've seen the aftermath of similar treefalls a good few times in Coillte forests over my years.

It does seem odd that right away on Friday, it was being reported that records were broken for sustained gusts over a 10 minute period and just for strongest gust. The ESB said close to a million properties lost power and it was the worst they have dealt with…all of this talk about it being the worst but it feels like the interest in it as a story didn't even make it 3 days. Stories about the storm fell to 5th or 6th most read on the RTE website. The approach from Government + the fact our leaders were travelling as the fallout from the storm was happening and some of the councils response simply equated to other storms rather than an exceptional natural disaster. It feels like, if anything it is being downplayed by everyone but those who were in its direct path…

Yeah maybe not, but not just "knocking", also the force of another tree leaning on it, essentially doubling the force of the wind on one tree's trunk could snap it? Just a theory. I don't think tornadoes could have been a factor, they couldn't have formed in those conditions. But possibly some stingjet madness alright.

I will say the downplaying sucks. Even from a Dublin POV there was a lot of damages in my area alone, it just didn't strike the power so 'all is fine and dandy'.

My heart goes out to those still without electricity, or had bad damages on their property, you're all so strong <3

Here's some photo's I collected over the last few days of the storm in Dublin

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DFSdnD5Onft/?igsh=dGl3Ym5mdnhqdzBr

Small bit of the damage

How do you embed Instagram vids?

I think many of the reports were hampered by travel, as well. Fallen trees, roads impassible. No way to contact locals due to phones and mobile networks being down. It took a good few couple of days for the major stories to emerge, especially with no electricity. Then a lot of presenters are still on their winter holidays, and playing 'best of' shows in the meantime. So the coverage has been restricted there too.

The last paragraph is spot on. It's all about the money.

We were without power for 3 days and that was long enough. The house was freezing. The temperature in the house got down to 12.5°. There are some in the area that still haven't got power back.

The whole situation still feels raw and national and local government need to hang their heads in shame. There was no mobile data so we had no access to the Internet. Like many others we had to drive out of the area to log the fault and get a hot meal. Was hoping local radio would provide some information that would be useful but it was all just general "we're working hard to get services reconnected blah blah blah, check with powercheck to see the latest info". The local Supermacs plaza saved the day providing power points to charge batteries and hot food, no Internet service though so had to travel further out for that.

Community hubs were eventually set up on Tuesday which in my mind was 2 days too late, that should have been up and running over the weekend.

Will definitely have gas heaters and gas cooker in for next winter.

Even now TD's are just telling people what they already know like what areas still have no power and what areas have no water. I'm pretty sure people are well aware of these facts. Nothing about the financial support being offered. I feel they are using the information being given out as a PR exercise for them.

I'm angry for myself and everyone else who suffered last weekend.

That poor woman on RTE last night who's entire roof came off. Solid brick just ripped clean off. Has to have been a stingjet/tornado.

There's a gofund me for anyone who saw it and wants to donate, she has no house insurance as family home that's been there over a century.

Here's the gofundme link

I honestly couldn't see how that roof could ever have been securely attached to the old walls, which seem to be made of stone and rubble, not brick.

Maybe I'm thinking of a different house?

So many still without power around me. The ESB seemed to patch the "main" country roads but didn't go down all the little side roads. Day 8 for them now.

Power back here in South Leitrim as of last night and i have to say a big fair play to the ESB crews for finding the faults(s) there was the IR enabled copters and 2 crews about going field to field (bog / marsh land). Power flickered about 4.45 for a split second on my way home (herself called excited) but on arrival was still no power. Took the dog for a walk before it got dark and as i came back to the house could see the LED lights in a spare room on and green and was highly confused and not comprehending it was back. Herself was in the living room doing star jumps of joy out the window at me. Was day 7 getting it back and was damn near enough days to be out.

thing with the community hubs if they didn't have power or water they could be in same boat.

I know our local community centres didn't start offering services until our power came on.