Storm Barbara
By Paul Homewood
Storm Barbara
The Met Office were forecasting winds of up to 90mph for Storm Barbara, but it is now clear that such forecasts were well over the top.
The only place that got anywhere that figure was way to the north, Stella Ness in the Shetlands. Elsewhere the highest recorded gusts were 75mph.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/barometer/uk-storm-centre/storm-barbara
According to the Orkney Island Council Marine Services Dept, average wind speeds at Scapa, which should have been one of the worst affected areas, peaked around 46kt, or 54mph, which would be classified as a strong gale.
http://www.orkneyharbours.com/weather.asp?t=1.
For the record, based on data only going back to 1969, the highest gust speed recorded at UK low level sites was 142 mph in 1989.
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/climate-extremes/#?tab=climateExtremes
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NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW THAT 
The best comment I saw on this subject last winter when this ludicrous game of naming storms began was ln fhe Bishop Hill blog from (I think) Latimer Alder quoting a headline from the Stornoway Gazette (?) “Storm Abigail now upgraded to ‘normal Hebridean weather'”
Says it all, I reckon!
It’s all part of the Met Office “climate change” scare tactics. All weather is now unprecedented and extreme weather events have to be given names. The Met Office does very little science anymore and has dumbed everything down. You only have to watch or listen to their weather forecasts, with their “weather watchers” and stupid commentary. A few recent examples: “there will be lots of weather today”, “it’s been a funny old day” and “wrap up warm”.
…..amazingly the BBC admitted on the one o’clock news that “storm” barbara had been less strong than forecast! Seems like the only damage was lightning related.
But Aunty may now be in pre-emptive ‘rubbishing’ mode of its existing supplier in readiness for when MeteoGroup will take over in spring 2017. 😀
Storm Barbara blows blades from wind turbine:
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/storm-barbara-blows-blades-wind-12369035#rlabs=1%20rt$sitewide%20p$5
That looks like an Endurance E3120. Since Endurance went bust after the subsidies were slashed, the turbine might not be repairable. It’s strange how wind turbines don’t like wind. You might think they’d be designed to cope with wind. However having seen one at close quarters, I’m not sure that they are designed by engineers.
Sorry missed this comment Joe, our incident is getting shared widely.
Actually my comment won’t make sense, thought I had posted a similar comment but it hasn’t appeared. Possibly in moderation due to link?