Blizzards

nacho libre · 24-12-2013 1:38pm #1

"A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong sustained winds of at least 56 km/h (35 mph) and lasting for a prolonged period of time – typically three hours or more"

Just thinking about it i don't think I've ever experienced a blizzard in this country. I suppose given most of us live away from high ground it's probably the same for most people. If Carlsberg did blizzards, I'd wake up to one on Christmas morning

Gonzo · 24-12-2013 3:29pm

I still have memories of the 1982 blizzard had to walk during it to the shop with my parents. The easterly wind was very strong with the intense snowfall almost falling horizontally at times and into our faces. It wasnt very pleasant but the snow was great once it stopped snowing. I think it snowed solidly for about 14 hours.

tylercollins · 24-12-2013 3:56pm

I experienced one. I made the trip from Co. Derry to Co. Antrim 22nd March of this year. It lasted hours, continuous snow fall and gusty winds to much of coast of Co. Antrim was unbelievable brought total chaos. Electric was down for days, people stuck in there homes, travel disruption, tens of thousands of animals dead.

As much as it caused widespread disruption, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would give both my nuts to experience another one.

sparrowcar · 24-12-2013 6:36pm

I've been in one camping in Wicklow about 4-5 years ago. We had to abandon our hike and set up camp, Woke up to this outside our tents.

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Thargor · 24-12-2013 10:48pm

Is that the metal box on the walk down to the miners village in Glendalough? Kicking myself that Ive never gotten up there in the snow yet...

sparrowcar · 24-12-2013 10:56pm

Thargor wrote: »

Is that the metal box on the walk down to the miners village in Glendalough? Kicking myself that Ive never gotten up there in the snow yet...

Correct. We were making our way up to the top of the valley and things got sketchy so we set up there.

JMSE · 24-12-2013 11:02pm

1982 for me too, wind and driving snow, the snowdrifts around dunboyne co. meath (not prone to snow) where huge with cars buried in them where their owners had given up and continued on foot. Havent seen sustained wind driven snow like that since, just squally snow which always makes armageddon feel close until they pass just like any rain shower

Red Nissan · 26-12-2013 10:41am

Cork 1997 better know as the Christmas Eve blizzard.

I was working in the old Tesco in Douglas Village at the time, part of the roof was blown off and cars were drifting in the wind in the [then] open car park, it did last a few hours and started abruptly and stopped the same way, from zero to 50mph winds constant no gusts to zero.

I've posted of the devastation in the current storm thread.

nacho libre · 26-12-2013 1:20pm

That story is just too much to take, so even snow-shield cork has experienced a blizzard.

Red Nissan · 26-12-2013 1:48pm

nacho libre wrote: »

That story is just too much to take, so even snow-shield cork has experienced a blizzard.

Yes, indeed, the shield ironically works so well that we only tend to experience really extreme events and we do enjoy almost unique weather experiences, though rarely.

s.m · 27-12-2013 1:28pm

correct me if i'm wrong but i can recall blizzard like conditions back around jan/feb 1991

nacho libre · 14-01-2014 3:33pm

I've been watching a lot of videos of blizzards on you tube lately. Why snow gods why? Have I not danced enough

dopolahpec · 15-01-2014 4:13pm

s.m wrote: »

correct me if i'm wrong but i can recall blizzard like conditions back around jan/feb 1991

I would say there's been 4/5 proper hardcore easterlies in my lifetime. I am 33. February 1991 was an absolute classic. I think I saw historical charts recently which showed -13 C uppers for one of the nights. If I recall correctly the bulk of the snow fell on a single night, it was one of those special mornings where you'd awake to a whiteout, switch on the radio LMFM and hear the good news - all schools in Meath are closed!!!!

Oh the fun we had that day

endacl · 15-01-2014 4:15pm

tylercollins wrote: »

I thoroughly enjoyed it and would give both my nuts to experience another one.

Before you do anything hasty, you do realize that there are flights available to places that have blizzards?!?

bilston · 15-01-2014 4:16pm

tylercollins wrote: »

I experienced one. I made the trip from Co. Derry to Co. Antrim 22nd March of this year. It lasted hours, continuous snow fall and gusty winds to much of coast of Co. Antrim was unbelievable brought total chaos. Electric was down for days, people stuck in there homes, travel disruption, tens of thousands of animals dead.

As much as it caused widespread disruption, I thoroughly enjoyed it and would give both my nuts to experience another one.

And as unlikely as it is that there will be a repeat of that this year it's an example of why we shouldn't give up on Winter just yet.

dopolahpec · 15-01-2014 4:18pm

bilston wrote: »

And as unlikely as it is that there will be a repeat of that this year it's an example of why we shouldn't give up on Winter just yet.

Hope so, but I'm getting the bad vibe now. The 'it's not going to happen this year' vibe. Same as with a wet summer. Sometimes you just know in the end.

dopolahpec · 15-01-2014 4:21pm

I have no doubt that twice as much snow fell between 1981 and 1991 (in Meath anyway) than in the 23 years since. Bear in mind 2010 didn't deliver much north of Dublin

Blizzards

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