The purpose of the baseline is to understand the challenges of current climatic hazards. A review of recent climate events help local authorities anticipate and prepare for future extreme weather events. This process is critical in developing the climate adaptation strategy as it responds to the effects of climate events at a local level.
A review of climate events that have affected County Cork was undertaken using Met Éireann data [29] along with data gathered from workshops and local research. This is not a complete listing but is intended to give an idea of extreme weather events with which Cork County Council has dealt with in the recent past. With all climate events comes an understanding of the level of unpredictability. Nevertheless, knowledge and experience acquired from past events (including information from many sectors eg Met Eireann, OPW etc) will benefit future planning and preparedness and a continuous review of extreme events will help to build resilience and prevent the worst of risks.
With all climate events comes an understanding of the level of unpredictability. Nevertheless, knowledge and experience acquired from past events (including information from many sectors eg Met Eireann, OPW etc) will benefit future planning and preparedness and a continuous review of extreme events will help to build resilience and prevent the worst of risks.
| Extreme weather events | Description |
|---|---|
| Coastal flooding | • February 2002: Cork City Flooding |
| Coastal storms | • February 1990: Severe gusts and heavy rainfall • January 1993: Severe gusts and heavy rainfall |
| Extreme heat | • Summer 1995: Warmest weather since 1955 • Summer 2006: Warmest weather since 1995 • Summer 2018: High temperature & drought conditions |
| Extreme rainfall | • November 2009: 55mm 1-day total recorded in Baile Bhuirne • June 2012: 58mm 1-day total recorded in Bandon |
| Fluvial flooding | • November 2000: River Lee • August 2008: River Blackwater • November 2009: River Lee • February 2014: River Lee • December 2015: River Bandon |
| Freezing conditions | • December 2010: Cork recorded -7.2 degrees • March 2018- Storm Emma- -7.0 degrees recorded at Cork Airport |
| Groundwater flooding | • January 2016: N25 flooded between Killeagh and Castlemartyr |
| Heavy snowfall | • January 1987: 12cm of snow at Roches Point • March 2018: 14cm of snow at Cork Airport- Beast from East & Storm Emma |
| Pluvial flooding | • June 2012: Douglas • August 1997: Freemount |
| Storm force winds/windstorms | • February 1988: Gusts in excess of 84 Knots recorded at Cork Airport • January 1991: Gusts in excess of 68 knots recorded at Roches point • October 2017: Hurricane Ophelia. |
Table 3.1 Extreme weather events in Cork 1987-2018