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{{Infobox Hurricane |
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| Name=Hurricane Debbie |
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| Type=hurricane |
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| Year=1961 |
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| Basin=Atl |
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| Image location=DebbieSep1119611830UTCTIROS3.gif |
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| Image name=Debbie on September 11 |
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| Image alt=Black and white satellite image of a hurricane showing organized structure but no cyclonic eye. The hurricane appears to the right of the image, and the curvature of the Earth is visible. |
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| Formed=September 6, 1961 |
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| Dissipated=September 19, 1961<br><small>([[Extratropical cyclone|Extratropical]] after September 16)</small> |
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| 1-min winds=105 |
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| Pressure=961 |
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| Damages=50 |
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| Damagespost=Estimated |
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| Fatalities=78 total |
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| Areas=[[Cape Verde Islands]], [[Azores]], [[British Isles]], [[Norway]], [[Russia]] |
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| Hurricane season=[[1961 Atlantic hurricane season]] |
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}} |
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'''Hurricane Debbie''' was the most powerful [[Low-pressure area|cyclone]] on record to strike [[Ireland]] in September. The fourth [[Tropical cyclone#Tropical storm|named storm]] of the [[1961 Atlantic hurricane season]], Debbie originated from a well-defined tropical disturbance that was first identified in late August over Central Africa. Tracking generally westward, the system moved off the coast of [[Senegal]] on September 5 into the Atlantic Ocean. By this time, it was estimated to have become a tropical storm, but forecasters did not issue advisories on the system until two days later. Late on September 6, Debbie passed through the southern [[Cape Verde Islands]] as a strong tropical storm or minimal hurricane, resulting in a plane crash that killed 60 people in the islands. Once clear of the islands, data on the storm became sparse, and the status of Debbie was uncertain over the following several days as it tracked west-northwestward and later northward. It was not until a commercial airliner intercepted the storm on September 10 that its location was certain. The following day, Debbie intensified and reached its peak intensity as a Category 3 hurricane on the [[Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale]], with maximum winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). |
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Maintaining its peak intensity for over a day, the hurricane gradually slowed its forward motion and weakened. By September 13, Debbie's motion became influenced by the [[Westerlies]], causing the system to accelerate east-northeastward. The system passed over the western [[Azores]] as a minimal hurricane on September 15. At this point, there is uncertainty as to the structure of Debbie, whether it transitioned into an [[extratropical cyclone]] or maintained its identity as a tropical system. Regardless of which took place, the system deepened as it neared the [[British Isles]], skirting the coast of Western Ireland on September 16. Shortly thereafter, the system was confirmed to have become extratropical as it continued towards the northeast. The remnants of the storm later turned eastward, striking Norway and Russia, before dissipating on September 19. |
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Striking Ireland as a powerful storm, Debbie brought record winds to much of the island, with a peak gust of {{convert|114|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} measured just offshore. These winds caused widespread damage and disruption, downing tens of thousands of trees and power lines. Countless structures sustained varying degrees of damage, with many smaller buildings destroyed. Agriculture experienced extensive losses to barley, corn and wheat crops. Throughout Ireland, Debbie killed 18 people (12 in the [[Republic of Ireland]] and six in [[Northern Ireland]]). It caused [[United States dollar|US$]]40–50 million in damage in the Republic{{#tag:ref|All damage totals are in 1961 values.|group="nb"}} and at least [[Pound sterling|£]]1.5 million (US$525,000) in Northern Ireland. The storm also battered parts of [[Great Britain]] with winds in excess of {{convert|100|mph|km/h|abbr=on}}. |
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==Meteorological history== |
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{{storm path|Debbie 1961 track.png|alt=Path of a hurricane, with colored dots representing the storm's intensity at different positions in six-hour intervals. The storm begins in the lower-center of the image near a landmass, moves left, up, and then generally moves towards the upper-right corner of the image. The colored dots reflect a gradual increase and then decrease in intensity.}} |
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During late August and into early September 1961, an unusual series of low-level disturbances developed over Central and West Africa and into the eastern Atlantic Ocean. One of these systems, that probably formed over Central Africa at the end of August, became increasingly organized as it moved over [[Nigeria]] on September 1. As the disturbance travelled steadily westward, its [[Low-pressure area|mid-level circulation]] became well defined, and the accompanying low-level centre gradually followed suit. An upper-level [[anticyclone]] accompanied the storm during this entire period, providing a favorable upper-air regime for strengthening. According to a post-storm study in 1962, all the necessary environmental ingredients were available to the disturbance while it was over land; the only factor inhibiting earlier development was a lack of access to the warm waters. Around 1200 [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]] on September 5, the low emerged off the coast of [[Senegal]] as a strong tropical depression or tropical storm. By this time, the system had a central pressure below 1006 [[Bar (unit)|mbar]] ([[Pascal (unit)|hPa]]; 29.71 [[Inches of Mercury|inHg]]), and sustained winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) were reported in [[Dakar, Senegal]]. As the system neared [[Cape Verde]], it continued to intensify and by the evening of September 6, reports from the nearby Danish tanker ''Charlotte Maersk'' indicated that the system was already at or near hurricane intensity.<ref name="Precursor">{{cite journal|author=C. O. Erickson|publisher=American Meteorological Society|journal=Monthly Weather Review|date=February 1963|accessdate=January 1, 2013|title=An Incipient Hurricane Near The West African Coast|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1963)091<0061:AIHNTW>2.3.CO;2|volume=91|issue=2|format=[[PDF]]|pages=61–68|url=http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/091/mwr-091-02-0061.pdf}}</ref> |
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Late on September 6, Debbie passed over the southern Cape Verde Islands as a strong tropical storm or low-end hurricane.<ref name="Precursor"/> Continuing on a west-northwest path, mainly in response to a large [[High-pressure area|area of high pressure]] over the eastern Atlantic, the system continued to intensify.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Clifton F. Tisdale|publisher=American Meteorological Society|journal=Monthly Weather Review|date=December 1961|accessdate=January 1, 2013|title=The Weather and Circulation of September 1961|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1961)089<0560:TWACOS>2.0.CO;2|volume=89|issue=12|format=[[PDF]]|pages=560–566|url=http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/mwr/089/mwr-089-12-0560.pdf|year=1961}}</ref> [[Sea surface temperature]]s in the region averaged {{convert|80|F|C|abbr=on}}, supportive of tropical development.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Irving Perlroth|journal=Tellus|volume=21|issue=2|date=April 1969|accessdate=January 2, 2013|title=Effects of oceanographic media on Equatorial Atlantic hurricanes|url=http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.2153-3490.1969.tb00435.x/pdf|format=[[PDF]]|doi=10.1111/j.2153-3490.1969.tb00435.x|page=242}}</ref> At 1913 UTC on September 7, a picture from [[Television Infrared Observation Satellite|TIROS-3]] showed that an [[Eye (cyclone)|eye]] had already developed and [[rainband|banding features]] covered an area more than {{convert|300|mi|km|abbr=on}} from the centre.<ref name="Precursor"/> Debbie was not classified operationally as a tropical storm until 2200 UTC on September 7, at which time the centre was estimated to be about {{convert|550|mi|km|abbr=on}} west-southwest of [[Sal, Cape Verde|Sal Island]]. Over the following three days, virtually no data was available on the hurricane and no reliable estimates on its intensity could be made. During this time, the storm was estimated to have taken a more north-westerly course over the open ocean. It was not until a [[Royal Dutch Airlines]] flight encountered the storm on September 10 that an accurate positioning of the hurricane could be made.<ref name="Prelim">{{cite web|url=http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/hurricanes/Qc9452d393h81961.pdf|title=Hurricane Debbie — September 7–15, 1961 Preliminary Report|year=1961|work=National Weather Bureau|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|accessdate=January 1, 2013}}</ref> |
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[[File:Hurricane Debbie on September 7, 1961.png|thumb|By September 7, Hurricane Debbie (lower left corner) already featured a clear, well-defined eye.|alt=Black and white satellite image of a hurricane with an eye and well organized structure. Due to the storm's position near the edge of the image, most of the hurricane is not visible. The curvature of the Earth is visible on the right, and a coordinate grid with labels has been superimposed on the image.]] |
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After maintaining a nearly steady course for three days, Hurricane Debbie turned northward and slowed as it neared a break in the ridge previously steering it west-northwestward.<ref>{{cite web|author=Ralph L. Higgs|work=Weather Bureau Airport Station in San Juan, Puerto Rico|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|date=September 14, 1961|accessdate=January 1, 2013|title=Report on Hurricane Debbie — September 7–11, 1961|page=2|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1961/debbie/preloc/pshsju2.gif|format=Report}}</ref> During the evening of September 11, a [[United States Navy]] [[Hurricane Hunter|Aircraft reconnaissance]] mission into the storm found sustained winds of 110 – 120 mph (175 – 195 km/h) and a central pressure of 976 mbar (hPa; 28.82 inHg),<ref name="Prelim"/> reaching its peak intensity as a modern-day [[SSHS#Category 3|Category 3 hurricane]] on the [[Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale]] with winds of 120 mph (195 km/h). After maintaining its windspeeds for over 24 hours, the system weakened and turned sharply towards the east-northeast in response to the upper-level [[westerlies]].<ref name="Prelim"/><ref name="HURDAT">{{cite web|work=Hurricane Research Division|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|year=2012|accessdate=January 1, 2013|title=Hurricane Debbie 1961 Easy-to-Read Best Track|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/easy_1961-70.htm#1961_4}}</ref> By the afternoon of September 13, Debbie was again a Category 1 storm as it quickly accelerated towards the [[Azores]]. Early on September 15, the storm passed over the easternmost Azores with winds estimated at 80 mph (130 km/h) before turning more northeasterly.<ref name="HURDAT"/> Once past the Azores, there is an uncertainty over the structural changes that took place with Debbie. According to the United States [[National Weather Service|Weather Bureau]]'s preliminary report, the system acquired characteristics of an [[extratropical cyclone]] on September 15, though remained a strong system.<ref name="Prelim"/> This conflicts with the best track supplied by the Bureau and the [[National Hurricane Center]]'s [[HURDAT|hurricane database]] maintains the system as a tropical cyclone until the afternoon of September 16.<ref name="HURDAT"/><ref>{{cite web|work=National Weather Bureau|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|year=1961|accessdate=January 1, 2013|title=Hurricane Debbie 1961 Operational Best Track|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1961/debbie/opltrack/besttrk5.gif|page=5}}</ref> |
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The system moved towards the [[British Isles]] and began to deepen. Debbie eventually brushed the coast of Western [[Ireland]] near [[Achill Island]] during the morning of September 16 with sustained winds of 80 mph (130 km/h).<ref name="HURDAT"/> Around this time, a pressure of {{convert|961.4|hPa|inHg|abbr=on}} was measured as it passed near [[Belmullet]]. If the system maintained tropical characteristics at this time, it would have been the first such storm on record to strike Ireland.<ref name="InTech"/> Shortly after striking Ireland, the system was confirmed to have transitioned into an extratropical cyclone as it re-emerged into the northeast Atlantic Ocean.<ref name="Prelim"/> While passing between Ireland and Scotland, the system continued to deepen, achieving an estimated central pressure of {{convert|950|hPa|inHg|abbr=on|sigfig=4}}. According to a study by Hickey and Connolly-Johnston, this ranked Debbie as the most intense post-hurricane from 1960 to 2012 to move through the British Isles.<ref name="InTech"/> After clearing the [[United Kingdom]], the hurricane's remnants turned more easterly, later impacting [[Norway]] and [[Russia]] before dissipating on September 19.<ref name="Prelim"/> |
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==Impact== |
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===Republic of Ireland=== |
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{|class="wikitable" style="float: right; margin:0 1em 0.5em 1em;" |
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|+ Notable wind measurements<ref name="InTech"/><ref name="MetEireann"/>{{#tag:ref|Values marked with {{dagger}} represent all-time record measurements as of 2012.|group="nb"}} |
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! Location !! Maximum Gust !! [[Maximum sustained wind|10-Minute Sustained]] |
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| Belmullet ||align="right"| {{convert|92|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} ||align="right"| {{convert|66|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} |
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| [[Birr]] ||align="right"| {{convert|93|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} ||align="right"| {{convert|45|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} |
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| [[Claremorris]] ||align="right"| {{convert|105|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} ||align="right"| {{convert|69|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} {{dagger}} |
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|- |
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| [[Clones]] ||align="right"| {{convert|100|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} {{dagger}} ||align="right"| {{convert|58|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} |
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| [[Dublin Airport]] ||align="right"| {{convert|74|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} ||align="right"| {{convert|39|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} |
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| [[Kilkenny]] ||align="right"| {{convert|75|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} ||align="right"| {{convert|46|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} |
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| [[Malin Head]] ||align="right"| {{convert|113|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} {{dagger}} ||align="right"| {{convert|78|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} |
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| [[Mullingar]] ||align="right"| {{convert|91|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} {{dagger}} ||align="right"| {{convert|52|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} {{dagger}} |
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|- |
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| [[Roche's Point Lighthouse|Roche's Point]] ||align="right"| {{convert|82|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} ||align="right"| {{convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} |
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| [[Rosslare Strand|Rosslare]] ||align="right"| {{convert|83|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} ||align="right"| {{convert|54|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} |
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| [[Shannon Airport]] ||align="right"| {{convert|107|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} {{dagger}} ||align="right"| {{convert|69|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} {{dagger}} |
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| [[Valentia Island#Weather station|Valentia Observatory]] ||align="right"| {{convert|101|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} {{dagger}} ||align="right"| {{convert|67|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} |
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As early as September 13, residents were made aware that a storm might strike parts of Ireland with hurricane-force winds. Two days later, forecasters believed the storm would take a more southerly course towards [[France]]. This forecast was later withdrawn as the storm failed to turn eastward.<ref name="IP2"/> Consequently, gale warnings were issued for much of western Ireland on the morning of September 16, hours before the brunt of the storm arrived.<ref>{{cite news|title=Maasdam Serviced In Teeth Of Strong Gale|newspaper=Connacht Tribune|date=September 16, 1961|page=9}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> Fearing building collapses, officials in [[County Galway]] closed markets for the duration of the storm.<ref name="CS2"/> |
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A powerful tropical or extratropical cyclone, on September 16 Hurricane Debbie became one of the most intense storms on record to strike Ireland. The storm brought hurricane-force winds to a large part of the country,<ref name="MetEireann"/> with wind gusts peaking at {{convert|114|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} off the coast of [[Arranmore]].<ref name="CS2"/> At several locations, all-time wind gusts and ten-minute sustained wind records were broken.<ref name="MetEireann"/> Sustained winds at Malin Head stayed at or above {{convert|62|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} for approximately six hours.<ref name="InTech"/> Debbie was the strongest storm, in terms of atmospheric pressure, to strike Ireland during the month of September, with a pressure of 961.4 mbar (hPa; 28.39 inHg) measured in Belmullet.<ref name="MetEireann"/> Rainfall from the storm was relatively minor, with rainfall rates peaking at {{convert|0.35|in|mm|abbr=on|0}} per hour at the Valentia Observatory. Though limited, the rain did cause some lakes in the west to flood..<ref name="InTech"/> |
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The greatest damage occurred in a swath stretching from [[County Kerry|Kerry]] to [[Limerick]] as well as the counties of [[County Sligo|Sligo]] and [[County Donegal|Donegal]]. In these areas, the hurricane's powerful winds damaged or destroyed many buildings and downed trees and power lines.<ref name="JSTOR"/> In the hardest hit areas, communication was not restored for over four days.<ref name="IP2">{{cite news|newspaper=Irish Press|date=September 20, 1961|title=Hurricane Esther, a new alert|page=8}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> Many roads were blocked by debris for up to two days. Crops and trees were badly damaged.<ref name="JSTOR">{{cite journal|journal=The Irish Naturalists' Journal|author=J. G. Gruickshank, N. Stephens, and L. J. Symons|date=January 1962|volume=14|issue=1|pages=4–12|title=Report of the Hurricane in Ireland on Saturday, 16th September, 1961|jstor=25534822}}</ref> Approximately two percent of the trees in the forestry industry were snapped or uprooted, with some areas losing up to twenty-four percent.<ref name="InTech"/> In general, [[Maize|corn]] and wheat crops fared better than expected, with only 25–30 percent being lost; however, some farmers reported [[barley]] losses greater than 50 percent.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Irish Farmers Journal|title=Crop Losses|date=September 23, 1961|page=1}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> Downed trees from the storm wreaked havoc, leaving considerable damage and loss of life behind.<ref name="II1"/> All told, Hurricane Debbie was responsible for 12 deaths in the Republic of Ireland.<ref name="InTech">{{cite book|doi=10.5772/54039|author=Kieran R. Hickey and Christina Connolly-Johnston|publisher=InTech|year=2012|accessdate=January 1, 2013|isbn=978-953-51-0867-2|pages=183–198|chapter=The Impact of Hurricane Debbie (1961) and Hurricane Charley (1986) on Ireland|title=Advances in Hurricane Research — Modelling, Meteorology, Preparedness and Impacts|url=http://www.intechopen.com/books/advances-in-hurricane-research-modelling-meteorology-preparedness-and-impacts/the-impact-of-hurricane-debbie-1961-and-hurricane-charley-1986-on-ireland}}</ref><ref name="II2"/> Four people were killed in [[County Cavan]] – a widow, her two daughters and granddaughter – after a tree fell on their car.<ref name="II1">{{cite news|newspaper=Irish Independent|title=Fifteen Perished In Gale|date=September 18, 1961|page=1}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> Five deaths resulted from fallen trees and three others were from building collapses.<ref name="II2"/> At least 50 people were injured, few of which were serious.<ref name="MWR">{{cite journal|author=Gordon E. Dunn|publisher=American Meteorological Society|journal=Monthly Weather Review|date=March 1962|accessdate=January 1, 2013|title=Atlantic Hurricane Season of 1961|doi=10.1175/1520-0493(1962)090<0107:THSO>2.0.CO;2|volume=90|issue=3|format=[[PDF]]|pages=113–114|url=http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/general/lib/lib1/nhclib/mwreviews/1961.pdf|year=1962}}</ref><ref name="IP1">{{cite news|newspaper=Irish Press|title=Unparalleled havoc in wake of freak gale|date=September 18, 1961|page=7}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> A study in 2012 estimated that damage from the storm was at least US$40–50 million across Ireland.<ref name="InTech"/> |
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Newspapers reported that the city of [[Galway]] "resembled a bombed area," referring to the scale of damage caused by the winds.<ref name="II3">{{cite news|title=Trail Of Havoc|newspaper=Irish Independent|page=3|date=September 18, 1961}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> In nearby [[Ballygar]], two barns were destroyed, one of which had debris strewn over a wide area.<ref name="CS1"/> Hurricane-force winds battered [[Tuam]] for several hours, leaving most buildings damaged.<ref name="CS1">{{cite news|newspaper=Connacht Sentinel|date=September 19, 1961|title=Repairing Hurricane Damage|page=10}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> Nearly every structure in [[Connemara]] was damaged and many homes lost their roofs.<ref name="CT2"/> At [[Cork Airport]], windows at the control tower were blown out and a construction crane was knocked over.<ref name="II2">{{cite news|newspaper=Irish Independent|date=September 18, 1961|title=Gale Killed Fifteen|page=3}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> Residents in [[Loughrea]] dubbed Saturday, September 16, 1961 as "The Day Of The Big Wind" in light of the extensive damage.<ref name="CS2"/> Damage in [[Roscommon]] was "impossible to calculate," as all power and communication around the town was lost.<ref name="CT2">{{cite news|newspaper=Connacht Tribune|date=September 23, 1961|title=Corporation Appeal To Government|page=12}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> In Limerick, 15 people were injured.<ref name="II3"/> Across County Cavan, thousands of trees were snapped or uprooted, leaving many towns temporarily cut off as roads were blocked and communications lost. Many structures sustained damage, which ranged from broken slate roofing to flattened barns. Most towns across the county were left without power and telephone service. Residents described the storm as "the worst in living memory."<ref name="AC1">{{cite news|newspaper=Anglo-Celt|date=September 23, 1961|title=Storm Reports From The Areas|page=9}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> |
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Along the coast, rough seas spurred by the winds damaged docks and flooded some coastal regions.<ref name="II1"/> Offshore, waves reached heights of {{convert|45|ft|m|abbr=on}} near Arranmore.<ref name="CS2">{{cite news|newspaper=Connacht Sentinel|date=September 19, 1961|title=Repairing Hurricane Damage|page=3}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> Dozens of ships were torn from their moorings and run aground at various ports,<ref name="II1"/> some of which were found {{convert|200|yd|m|abbr=on}} inland. In [[Salthill]], three marinas were damaged with forty vessels damaged or sunk.<ref name="CT1">{{cite news|newspaper=Connacht Tribune|date=September 23, 1961|title=Corporation Government: Grants For Storm Repair|page=9}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> Between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. local time, onshore winds from the storm caused the [[River Shannon]] to flow backwards and rise {{convert|4|ft|m|abbr=on}}.<ref name="CT2"/> Hundreds of acres of land, including potato and cabbage plots, were left several feet underwater. Many roads were submerged, making travel impossible in the area.<ref name="AC1"/> The combination of strong winds and [[sea spray]] from the storm caused extensive defoliation of vegetation up to {{convert|10|mi|km|abbr=on}} inland.<ref name="CS2"/> Spray from the [[River Foyle]] reportedly travelled {{convert|100|yd|m|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kate Heaney|publisher=''Donegal News''|date=September 16, 2011|accessdate=January 7, 2013|title=Recalling the day Donegal was rattled to the core|url=http://donegalnews.com/2011/09/recalling-the-day-donegal-was-rattled-to-the-core/}}</ref> |
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In the wake of the storm, more than 1,000 [[ESB Group|Electricity Supply Board (ESB)]] personnel were deployed to restore power.<ref name="IP1"/> In some areas, locals worked together to provide others with fresh food after electricity was lost. Fire brigades were sent on patrol to quell any looting.<ref name="CS1"/> In Galway, ESB repair crews worked through labor and supply shortages to restore power and telephone service despite recent strikes in the company. By September 23, officials in the city appealed to [[Government of Ireland|the Government]] for funding to deal with the aftermath of the hurricane. Uncertainty over whether some of the cost could be footed by landowners themselves resulted in disagreement over how much aid to request. <ref name="CT1"/> Due to the severity of damage to the electrical grid, there were numerous requests made to the ESB to build underground power cables, especially in Galway.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Connacht Tribune|title=Supper For Underground Cables Plea|date=October 7, 1961|page=7}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> |
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===United Kingdom=== |
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Exceptionally strong winds from the storm buffeted parts of [[Northern Ireland]], with gusts of {{convert|106|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} and {{convert|104|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} measured in [[Ballykelly, County Londonderry|Ballykelly]] and [[Tiree]] respectively.<ref name="InTech"/> The winds downed tens of thousands of trees and more than 1,000 telephone lines across the region.<ref name="UH1">{{cite news|newspaper=Ulster Herald|date=September 23, 1961|title=The Storm Made Much Work|page=7}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> In the Baronscourt Forest in [[County Tyrone]], 30,000 trees were blown down.<ref name="InTech"/> Countless roads across Northern Ireland were blocked by debris and major rail lines had to suspend service.<ref name="UH2">{{cite news|newspaper=Ulster Herald|date=September 23, 1961|title=Farmer and boys killed by falling trees|page=7}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> There was severe damage in the city of [[Derry]]<!--per [[WP:DERRY]]--> where a newly-built school was destroyed. Losses in the city alone amounted to [[Pound sterling|£]]500,000 (US$175,000). In [[Lagan Valley]], a brick community hall was destroyed.<ref name="JSTOR"/> An estimated 200 homes and two churches in [[Strabane]] were damaged. The town's labour exchange building was severely damaged as well. In a local cemetery, many tombstones were uprooted from concrete foundations and destroyed.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Ulster Herald|date=September 23, 1961|title=Damage To Strabane Railway Station|page=8}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> A newly-built fire station in [[Clogher]] collapsed after its roof was blown off.<ref name="UH2"/> Several people were injured in [[Belfast]] after a glass ceiling collapsed in a bus station and a piece of corrugated roofing blew in from a nearby building.<ref name="IP1"/> |
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Six people were killed in Northern Ireland, mostly due to fallen trees: two in [[County Fermanagh]] and one each in [[Cookstown]], [[Dungannon]], [[Omagh]], and elsewhere in Tyrone.<ref name="II2"/><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Irish Press|title=Man Hurt In Storm Dies|date=October 2, 1961|page=7}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> The cereal crop in Northern Ireland suffered greatly due to Debbie, with half of the yield being lost. Losses from the crop were estimated at £1 million (US$350,000).<ref name="JSTOR"/> In the wake of the storm, military ambulances from the [[Royal Army Medical Corps]] were dispatched to parts of West Tyrone.<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Ulster Herald|date=September 23, 1961|title=Omagh Notes|page=12}} {{subscription required|via=Irish Newspaper Archives}}</ref> Power repair crews were dispatched for nearly a week repairing downed wires across Northern Ireland. Many public authorities paid tribute to the workers for their tireless work.<ref name="UH1"/> After passing through Ireland, the storm brought strong winds and heavy rain to parts of Scotland and [[Wales]], resulting in some damage and flooding in the region.<ref name="MWR"/> On the coast of [[Lancashire]] and the [[Isle of Man]], [[sand storm]]s were reported, with significant sand deposits found inland.<ref name="InTech"/> |
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===Elsewhere=== |
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Unsettled weather in the Cape Verde Islands brought about by Tropical Storm Debbie was blamed for a plane crash on September 6 that killed 60 people.<ref name="MetEireann">{{cite web|publisher=Met Éireann|year=2012|accessdate=January 1, 2013|title=Exceptional Weather Events - "Hurricane Debbie"|url=http://www.met.ie/climate-ireland/weather-events/Sep1961_hurricane-Debbie.pdf|format=[[PDF]]}}</ref> Although the storm passed over the Azores as a hurricane, no reports of damage were received. Strong winds were also reported from the [[Bay of Biscay]] to locations in northern Norway.<ref name="MWR"/> |
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==See also== |
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{{Portal|Tropical cyclones}} |
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*[[1961 Atlantic hurricane season]] |
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*[[Hurricane Charley (1986)]] |
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*[[Hurricane Lili (1996)]] |
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==Notes== |
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{{Reflist|group=nb}} |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/storm_wallets/atlantic/atl1961/debbie/ The National Hurricane Center's storm wallets archive for Hurricane Debbie] |
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{{European windstorms}} |
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{{1961 Atlantic hurricane season buttons}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Debbie (1961)}} |
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[[Category:1961 Atlantic hurricane season]] |
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[[Category:1961 in Ireland]] |
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[[Category:Category 3 Atlantic hurricanes]] |
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[[Category:Hurricanes in Cape Verde]] |
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[[Category:Hurricanes in Europe]] |
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