Hi Col

I normally keep my head firmly below the parapet, but please - why be
so
petty with semantics. Surely the emphasis here is the "5 killed". I
really
hope that none of their surviving family have an interest in the
weather and
are not reading this newsgroup.

Paul


This was tradgic but could have been avoided if more people did have
an intrest and understanding in weather. This hurricane force storm
was well forecast and if those conserned had taken steps before it hit
they would have been safe. Also if the powers that be had closed the
causeway knowing that the condition would be so bad that again the
family would have been safe. Good forecasts will only save life if
they are acted upon in good time.

This reminds me of the public flogging of Michael Fish some time ago now
(and he wasn't completely wrong either). I cannot see the point of accurate
forecasting if people ignore the warnings. The most recent storms were
forecast well ahead. I think it's a shame that HGV's have to lay on their
side on the M6 before folk realise that we are in for a battering. My own
case, I live in the Highlands, I called my company to say that at best I
would be late for work, but likely not to make it at all. The response was
as if they thought I was making it all up! Until on of our aircraft weather
cocked in the high winds (and it's a big aircraft). The same morning I heard
an interview with Scotrail and Caledonian Macbrayne on the radio. No trains
were running at all until the lines had been checked, the interviewer asked
if that was a raw deal for season ticket holders. Calmac had cancelled all
sailings, the interviewer wanted to know about people who had to get off of
the islands! Both company spokesmen gave suitable and correct replies. There
is a definite ignorance of warning these days combined with stupid
journalism.

As for the poor souls on Uist, there may be more to this one. It maybe that
they were trying to escape tidal flooding.

John D

This was tradgic but could have been avoided if more people did have
an intrest and understanding in weather. This hurricane force storm
was well forecast and if those conserned had taken steps before it hit
they would have been safe. Also if the powers that be had closed the
causeway knowing that the condition would be so bad that again the
family would have been safe. Good forecasts will only save life if
they are acted upon in good time.

"John DH" wrote in message
...

As for the poor souls on Uist, there may be more to this one. It maybe
that
they were trying to escape tidal flooding.

The tide was certainly very unusual that night
Here it should have been a 3.9 m high springs -- from where the debris is on
the fences and up the fields it was over 5m. Not seen for very very many
years. It also continued to rise for an hour after high tide. The sea was
breaking the "rules" - it was not responding how these poor folks would have
expected.
Out there they would have been very experienced in the forces of the
eather - but even the experienced can panic when things are not as
expected.
So sad

--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Holidays in Scotland and Wales
http://www.kintaline.co.uk

I would have to check, but I think the storm coincided with a spring tide.

No one has yet mentioned storm surge, pictures from Oban show the seas at
unusually high levels, as if the water is pilling up on the coast. This
would explain the water levels continuing to rise after high tide and
breaking the rules.


The tide was certainly very unusual that night
Here it should have been a 3.9 m high springs -- from where the debris is
on
the fences and up the fields it was over 5m. Not seen for very very many
years. It also continued to rise for an hour after high tide. The sea was
breaking the "rules" - it was not responding how these poor folks would
have
expected.

I have only once been at sea in unforecast conditions and feared for my
life, I have never been able to explain how that really felt. I still love
my yachting though:-)

Out there they would have been very experienced in the forces of the
eather - but even the experienced can panic when things are not as
expected.
So sad

--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Holidays in Scotland and Wales
http://www.kintaline.co.uk

On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 11:49:03 -0000, John DH wrote in


No one has yet mentioned storm surge, pictures from Oban show the seas at
unusually high levels, as if the water is pilling up on the coast. This
would explain the water levels continuing to rise after high tide and
breaking the rules.

There was certainly a surge here on the north coast of N.I. The River Bann
flooded in Coleraine and that is quite rare. It usually coincides with a
spring tide and surge.
The dunes at Portstewart now have a cliff about 6 feet high cut by the sea,
indicating a surge not far short of that figure. It is over a year since
the sea reached the dunes.

--
Mike 55.13°N 6.69°W Coleraine posted to uk.sci.weather 14/01/2005 12:03:48 UTC

John DH wrote:
I would have to check, but I think the storm coincided with a spring
tide.

As I said it "was" springs - not the highest for the rotation nor the
highest we have seen here [ which should have been a 4.6 which never came to
anything more than a 4m.


No one has yet mentioned storm surge, pictures from Oban show the
seas at unusually high levels, as if the water is pilling up on the
coast. This would explain the water levels continuing to rise after
high tide and breaking the rules.

Yup - it just kept piling in - we are used to storms and springs hereabouts
but have never seen SO profound an effect on a tide
Very scary when its coming into ones house I would imagine

--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Holidays in Scotland and Wales
http://www.kintaline.co.uk