 | |
| Type | Extratropical cyclone Bomb cyclone European windstorm |
|---|---|
| Formed | 5 December 2021 |
| Dissipated | 9 December 2021 |
| Lowest pressure | 956[1] mb (28.23 inHg) |
| Fatalities | 3 reported + 1 missing |
| Damage | Unknown |
| Power outages | 59,000[2] |
| Areas affected | France, Ireland, United Kingdom, Spain |
Storm Barra was a hurricane-force extratropical bomb cyclone in the North Atlantic Ocean that impacted Ireland and the United Kingdom with damaging gusts and heavy rainfall. Barra was also the reason for one of Navarre in Spain's worst floods in two decades. A surface low first developed over the Atlantic Ocean, which would eventually become Barra. This system rapidly intensified owing to approaching Ireland, bottoming from 1,010 to 956 hectopascals (29.8–28.2 inHg) in just 24 hours.[1] It then impacted the country, before weakening and moving through the United Kingdom. As it entered the North Sea, it further degraded and was absorbed by the frontal system of "Justus", an extratropical cyclone named by the Free University of Berlin (FUB).
Barra caused widespread preparations in Ireland and the UK. Schools were canceled, and weather alerts were placed for the possible areas to be affected by the impeding cyclone. COVID-19 test drives, along with hospital operations in the former were also disrupted. The strongest wind gust reported from the storm was 115 km/h (32 m/s) in Sherkin Island. Different properties were damaged, and trees were felled in Ireland, and also in the UK, where snow impacted areas of Scotland. Over 59,000 households also lost electricity. The storm also caused devastating floods in Spain, where one was killed. Overall, one death each was confirmed in Ireland, the UK and Spain, respectively and the damages were unknown.
- ^ a b "Storm Barra crashes into Ireland, UK with deadly force". Accuweather. 9 December 2021. Archived from the original on 8 December 2021. Retrieved 11 December 2021.
- ^ "Storm Barra leaves thousands without power in Ireland". TheGuardian. 7 December 2021. Archived from the original on 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.