 Christina over the Atlantic on 5 January 2014 | |
| Type | European windstorm |
|---|---|
| Formed | January 3, 2014 |
| Dissipated | January 10, 2014 |
| Lowest pressure | 934 mb (27.6 inHg) |
| Fatalities | 3 |
| Damage | €375 million |
| Areas affected | Ireland,United Kingdom,France,Channel Islands,Isle of Man,Spain,Portugal,Morocco |
Cyclone Christina was aEuropean windstorm which caused three fatalities and €375 million in damage across western Europe in early January 2014,[1] making landfall several days afterCyclone Anne. Forming out ofa powerful nor'easter off the coast ofNorth America, Christina reached a peak intensity of 934 mb (27.6 inHg)[2] as it crossed western Europe.
The storm was more commonly referred to as Christine inIreland.[3] It was named Christina by theFree University Berlin on 3 January.[4]
Christina began as an area of low pressure responsible for awinter storm in theUnited States andCanada, unofficiallynamedHercules byThe Weather Channel,[5] a name which was also used in several European newspapers.[6][7][8]The lowexplosively deepened before moving out over the Atlantic.[9] AMet Office spokeswoman said the storm developing in the Atlantic was "loosely connected to the weather system that caused the U.S. winter storm",[8] explaining that as it moved over the Atlantic it would pick up moisture and warmth from the ocean which would change its character.[10]
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Christina affected Ireland on the 175th anniversary of one of the worst storms of the last 500 years in the country, theNight of the Big Wind of 6 January 1839.[11] The IrishMarine Institute recorded waves nearly 12 metres on 6 January on its M6 buoy on thePorcupine Bank off the north-west of Ireland, and off the coast ofBelmullet, Co. Mayo.[11]
Galway city sawcoastal flooding along the coast at Spanish Arch, the Fishmarket and Docks, with Grattan Road closed. Salthill Promenade and Seapoint in the city were closed. In Galway theRiver Corrib burst its banks near to Spanish Arch, but saw no major flooding.[11] Junior MinisterBrian Hayes said Galway's application for flood relief funding from theOffice of Public Works would be dealt with rapidly.
A shipwreck featured in the opening credits of the comedy seriesFather Ted, theMV Plassey ship onInis Oirr was damaged and moved for the first time since 1991 by the storm.[12] The smallest of theAran islands also bore the brunt of the storm, where the high seas pounded the coast and the lighthouse was damaged.[13]
In County Clare "Christina" caused widespread damage, not due to high winds but due to high swells. Damage was reported fromLoop Head, while the seafront in Lahinch andLiscannor was again severely hit. Road flooding due to swells was reported from Clahane,Doolin,Ballyvaughan,Doonbeg,Kilbaha andCarrigaholt.[14][15][16]
AtRhosbeigh County Kerry the storm unearthed and moved the shipwreck of theSchooner Sunbeam buried since 1903, which was scheduled to be reburied by the National Monuments Service.[17]
Initial estimates of the costs of repair in Ireland estimated that the total bill to local authorities could exceed €100m.[18]
Clare County Council, thought to be the worst hit area, estimated costs for remedial work will cost €23.7 million. The county manager told the council in an emergency meeting the bill was beyond the financial capability of the council.[18] Initial assessments byKerry County Council estimated damage to infrastructure at €3.5 million, with an additional €16 million cost for coastal protection works. Estimates from Waterford were at €7 million, Cork County €5 million, Dublin City Council €100,000 and Galway City €1.5million (in the city only). Galway County, Donegal, Mayo, Sligo and Wexford were yet to release initial cost assessments.[18]
The combined costs to Clare and Kerry councils was estimated at €46 million,[19] with €5.8 million costs in the village of Lahinch alone.[19]
