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1992 New Year's Day Storm

October 15, 2023

The New Year's Day Storm (Norwegian: Nyttårsorkanen), known in Scotland as the 'Hogmanay Hurricane', was an intense European windstorm that affected much of northern Scotland and western Norway on 1 January 1992. DNMI estimated the strongest sustained winds (10 min. average) and the strongest gusts to have reached 103 mph (166 km/h; 46 m/s) and 138 mph (222 km/h; 62 m/s), respectively.[1] Unofficial records of gusts in excess of 170 knots (87 m/s) were recorded in Shetland, while Statfjord-B in the North Sea recorded wind gusts in excess of 145 knots (75 m/s). There were very few fatalities, mainly due to the rather low population of the islands, the fact that the islanders are used to powerful winds, and because it struck in the morning on a public holiday when people were indoors. In Norway there was one fatality, in Frei, Møre og Romsdal county. There were also two fatalities on Unst in the Shetland Isles. Despite being referred to by some as a 'Hurricane', the storm was Extratropical in origin and is classified as an Extratropical Cyclone.

Satellite image of the New Year Hurricane that hit Norway 1 January 1992. Image taken 04 UTC.

Meteorological synopsis Edit

The New Year's Day Storm was classified as an Extratropical Cyclone, also known as a Mid-latitude cyclone, which are common in this part of the world, especially during the winter and autumn months.[2] In Europe, these are habitually referred to as European Windstorms.

By 1200 UTC on 31 December 1991 an Atlantic low pressure centre of 985 mb had developed at the left exit of a strong WSW jet stream and was at 57°N 27°W. At this time a very sharp thermal trough (cold air) extended from south-west Iceland to the Hebrides with a thermal ridge building (warm air) behind it in the Atlantic.[3] A satellite image at 1600 UTC on 31 December showed a ‘clear eye’ in the cloud comma which indicates the dry air from the stratosphere descending into the developing low pressure as is a signature of explosive cyclogenesis. By 1800 UTC the low had deepened to 966mb.[3] At midnight (0000 UTC 1 January) the left exit of the jet stream was just behind the top of a sharp thermal ridge just west of Faroe, rapidly deepening the low centre to 957mb. Travelling at a speed of around 55 knots (63 mph; 102 km/h; 28 m/s), the low continued to deepen as it passed over Faroe and to the north of Shetland. Pressure falls were 5mb/hr across Shetland and 7mb/hr across Faroe.[3] The strongest winds arrived over the Shetland islands between 0100 UTC and dawn.[4]

The system is described as a 'Weather Bomb' due to its explosive cyclogenesis, exceeding the criteria of deepening by 24 mb in 24 hours greatly.[5] Explosive cyclogenesis usually occurs where dry air from the stratosphere flows down into a developing low pressure area and causes air within the depression to rise very quickly. This will increase its rotation, which in turn deepens the low pressure centre and creates a more vigorous storm.[3] The New Year's Day ‘Weather Bomb’ may have experienced double explosive cyclogenesis: firstly from the draw-down of cold dry air from the stratosphere and secondly the intercept of this already rapid development in the left exit of the jet stream with the warm air of a marked thermal ridge.[3]

New Year's Day Storm
Formed30th December 1991
Duration4 days
Dissipated3rd January 1992
Highest winds
  • ~150 mph (240 km/h; 67 m/s)
Highest gust>200 mph (320 km/h; 89 m/s)
Beaufort scale12
Lowest pressure947 mb (27.96 inHg)
Fatalities3
DamageUnknown.
Power outagesUnknown.
Areas affectedUnited Kingdom, Faroe Islands, Norway
Part of 1991-1992 European Windstorm Season

Impact Edit

Norway Edit

The New Year's Day Storm was the most devastating windstorm in modern Norwegian history, in terms of material damage. 29,000 buildings were affected,[6] as well as large quantities of productive forest.[7] In Norway the total damage cost was estimated to more than 2 billion NOK (1992 values), adjusted for inflation equals nearly 4 billion NOK (2023 values) or $400 million USD . Norwegian mass media wrote afterwards that it was a once-in-300-years hurricane. Meteorologists suggested rather that it had a wind speed with a repeat period of about 50–200 years varying from region to region.[8] It had the highest wind speed measured in Norway until then, and has not repeated at least for the first 30 years after it. Despite the extremely strong winds, only 1 death was reported in Norway.

The maximum gusts recorded in Norway during the storm was 139 mph (224 km/h; 62 m/s),[8] which was recorded at 2 lighthouses; Svinøy and Skalmen in Møre og Romsdal county. Furthermore, the strongest 1-minute sustained winds in Norway of 117 mph (188 km/h; 52 m/s), also were registered at these 2 lighthouses which is equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.[9][10][8] The Norwegian Meteorological Institute (MET Norway) (Norwegian: Meteorologisk Instituut) estimated that the wind gusts rose as high as 135 mph (217 km/h; 60 m/s).[11] At Ålesund Airport in Vigra for example, wind gusts of 123 mph (198 km/h; 55 m/s) were recorded.[12] Reliable wind data for the West coast of Norway is difficult to source due to the remoteness of the region.

After the storm, a relief action called Aksjon Orkan was set up, based in Oslo, a city which was not affected by the windstorm. Reactions among the populace in the affected areas were mixed. The action was supported by the County Governor of Møre og Romsdal, but the mayor of Vanylven scorned the perceived intent to collect "food and clothes for the windstorm victims", stating the lack of need for such aid.[13] The people behind the action later claimed that this was never the purpose.[14] By the middle of January Aksjon Orkan had collected NOK 600–800,000.[14][15]

United Kingdom Edit

This storm is regarded to be the most powerful storm to have hit the UK in reliable recorded history, and is a contender for the world's strongest extratropical cyclone in terms of raw windspeeds.[3]

In the UK, Scotland was worst affected. The wind was most severe in the Northern Isles, especially in Shetland. In Shetland, widespread structural damage was reported, and 2 people were killed - after their bird watching hut on Hermaness was destroyed during the violent gales.[16] The depression travelled towards the UK from off the coast of Canada on the 30–31 December 1991, travelling at 63 mph (101 km/h; 28 m/s).[3][4] The Met Office recognised the systems progression and subsequently issued warnings for parts of Scotland on the evening of the 31st December.[4] The strongest winds hit the Shetland Isles and Orkney Isles, beginning during the late evening hours of the 31st December 1991, with the strongest winds being from 01:00 to dawn on the 1st January 1992, local time.[4] The strongest winds were recorded at RAF Saxa Vord, located on Unst at the northern tip of the Shetland Islands, which recorded winds gusting to over 197 mph (317 km/h; 88 m/s)[4][3] however, as the station and recording instruments were destroyed, this has not been verified as an official record for the United Kingdom, and peak wind data is unobtainable.[4] Nevertheless, given damage and remoteness of the islands, it is expected that winds in some parts will have most certainly been higher at >200 mph (320 km/h; 89 m/s).[4]

Maximum recorded wind gusts recorded during the storm in the UK, Norway and the Faroe Islands*
Location Wind gust 1-minute Sustained Winds Elevation Notes
RAF Saxa Vord, Unst, UK >200 mph (320 km/h; 89 m/s)[4] Unknown 285 m (935 ft)[17] Equipment failure and severe damage to site[4]
Hermaness, Shetland, UK >200 mph (320 km/h; 89 m/s)*[4] >120 mph (190 km/h; 54 m/s)[4] 18 m (59 ft)[18][19] *Estimation derived due to damage and proximity to RAF Saxa Vord - location where 2 birdwatchers were hurled over a cliff.[16]
Muckle Flugga Lighthouse, Unst, UK ~200 mph (320 km/h; 89 m/s)[3][19] >120 mph (190 km/h; 54 m/s).[4][19] 66 m (217 ft)[20] 172 mph was the max. the station was able to record. Anemometer head snapped off. Sustained winds of >120 mph for more than half an hour.[3][4][19]
Sullom Voe Harbour, Shetland, UK Unknown. 150 mph (240 km/h; 67 m/s)[4] 0 m (0 ft)[21] A 'steady' 150 mph wind recorded by boats moored at Sullom Voe Harbour (Bft. 14).[4]
Statfjord-B, Shetland, UK 194 mph (312 km/h; 87 m/s)[3] 125 mph (201 km/h; 56 m/s)[16] 0 m (0 ft) [22] Report made just offshore by the UK-Norwegian shared oil platform.
Svinøy Lighthouse, Svinøy island, Norway 139 mph (224 km/h; 62 m/s)[8] 102 mph (164 km/h; 46 m/s)[8] 35 m (115 ft)[23] Joint highest sustained winds value in Norway.[9]
Skalmen Lighthouse, Smøla, Norway 139 mph (224 km/h; 62 m/s)[8] 102 mph (164 km/h; 46 m/s)[8] 16 m (52 ft)[24] Joint highest sustained wind value in Norway.[9]
Ålesund Airport, Vigra, Norway 123 mph (198 km/h; 55 m/s)[12] 76 mph (122 km/h; 34 m/s)[12] 21 m (69 ft)[25] Strongest winds occurred during the daylight hours.[12]
Halten Lighthouse, Frøya, Norway 123 mph (198 km/h; 55 m/s)[8] 89 mph (143 km/h; 40 m/s) 70 m (230 ft)[26] Extrapolated data above graph limit.[8]
Molde Airport, Årø, Norway 121 mph (195 km/h; 54 m/s)[8] Unknown. 3 m (9.8 ft)[27] Mean wind registration failed.[8]
Akraberg, Faroe Islands, Denmark Unknown. 92 mph (148 km/h; 41 m/s)[3] 94 m (308 ft)[28] Southern tip of Suðuroy (Danish: Suderø).[29]
Sumburgh, Shetland, UK 113 mph (182 km/h; 51 m/s)[3] 76 mph (122 km/h; 34 m/s)[3] [60-min mean] 6 m (20 ft)[30] Recorded at Sumburgh Airport.[3]
Butt of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, UK 110 mph (180 km/h; 49 m/s)[31] Unknown. 37 m (121 ft)[32] The highest wind gust recorded in the UK outside of the Northern Isles.[31]
Lerwick, Shetland, UK 109 mph (175 km/h; 49 m/s)[3] 72 mph (116 km/h; 32 m/s)[3] [60-min mean] 82 m (269 ft)[33] Home to over 20,000 people, Lerwick is the capital and largest town of the Shetland Islands.[34]
Sella Ness, Shetland, UK >98 mph (158 km/h; 44 m/s)[3] >72 mph (116 km/h; 32 m/s)[3] [60-min mean] 10 m (33 ft)[35] Inconsistent data reporting from this station, indicating potentially stronger winds.[3]
Tórshavn, Faroe Islands, Denmark Unknown. 69 mph (111 km/h; 31 m/s)[3] 24 m (79 ft)[36] Home to over 14,000 people (1992), Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands.[37]

*It is important to recognise that due to the strength of winds, many stations failed at reporting values higher than they were programmed to, such as Muckle Flugga. This station was incapable of reporting a value above 150 kn (170 mph; 280 km/h; 77 m/s), therefore, it reached 150 kn and couldn't go any higher despite winds being stronger. Some stations too were destroyed at a certain threshold, and therefore did not provide data for what the peak winds are estimated to be.

The strongest sustained winds were reported at Sullom Voe Harbour on Shetland, with a steady 150 mph wind reported by ships sheltering in the harbour.[4] These winds are equivalent to those that are found in Category 4 hurricanes on the Saffir-Simpson Scale.[10] Likewise, the strongest gusts were experienced over the northern section of the Shetland Islands, with gusts of over 200 mph (320 km/h; 89 m/s) being reported.

Unst
Location
 
 
Unst
Unst shown within Scotland
Coordinates60°45′N 0°53′W / 60.75°N 0.89°W / 60.75; -0.89
Physical geography
Island groupShetland
Administration
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
 

Damages Edit

Severe structural damage was reported across the Shetland Isles, with 2 tourists (aged 26 and 22) having been killed after their birdwatching hut was destroyed by gales of over 200 mph.[16] The remains of the tourists were found shoeless, one of them a short distance south along the path to the hut and the other more than half-a-mile to the east at the foot of an 18-metre cliff.[19] The RAF Saxa Vord station located at the northern tip of the Shetland islands also suffered from devastating damage, with all 3 radomes used by the British Armed Forces for NATO intelligence being completely destroyed for the second time, after being destroyed in 1960 by 170 mph wind gusts.[19] Nearby, a 30 m (98 ft) radio mast was snapped in half.[4] When questioned, Squadron leader Nicholas Gordon assured that national security had not suffered, but did not say if the surviving radars, designed to detect Soviet bombers and missiles, were still functional.[4] The Saxa Vord station suffered some of the most dramatic damage, with sections of the building seen with foundations swept clean of any construction.[19]

On Unst, the worst affect island by the storm, caravans and boats were reportedly 'flying through the air' and one caravan disappeared completely, presumably into the ocean.[4] Fish farms were badly hit, with £1.3 million (adjusted for inflation) worth of Salmon escaped from torn nets and smashed cages, surviving farms were offered record prices for their fish due to shortages.[4][38] Severe damage was reported to the 19th Century St. Magnus Bay Hotel in Hillswick, which was shifted on its foundations, and the next-door 'The Booth', Shetland's oldest pub,[4] took a battering, with the carpark being washed away - the combined repairs for these two buildings was expected to cost £1.3 million (adjusted for inflation).[4][38] Hagdale Lodge Hotel, which had capacity for 50 offshore oilrig workers, was nearly completely destroyed. The exterior walls of the lodge were collapsed in on themselves, and the site was deemed unusable, with new lodges arriving from Derbyshire and a complete rebranding off the site.[39] Two wings of the hotel had been 'disintegrated' and blew into the sea 0.5 miles (0.80 km) away, and the remaining had been punctured by flying wood and glass which embedded the standing walls.[19] In Sundraquoy, a woman narrowly escaped being crushed by a collapsing chimney which landed on her bed whilst she was away from home.[19]

A home on West Yell had its roof removed and blown 50 yards across the A968 before dropping back into the earth. In a caravan park in Lerwick, 22 caravans were destroyed, 8 of which had been "thrown through the air", seriously injuring 2 people, and an uninsured caravan was toppled after being struck by a neighbouring caravan.[19][4] The museum at Swedish Kirk, constructed as a memorial to Swedish fishermen had been ruined, with the building being launched 20 ft into the air.[19]

References Edit

  1. ^ "Meteorologisk institutt". Meteorologisk institutt.
  2. ^ "Insurance impacts of European windstorms". stories.ecmwf.int. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Fraser, P. A. "Shetland's 'Weather Bomb': The Development of the 'New Year's Day Storm' of 01st January 1992". Academia.edu.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Carle, Gordon (10 July 2010). "A History of RAF Saxa Vord: The Storm – New Year 1991/92 Part 1". A History of RAF Saxa Vord. p. The Sunday Times 12 January 1992. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  5. ^ "What is a weather bomb?". Met Office. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  6. ^ "Nyttårsorkanen". Aschehoug og Gyldendals Store norske leksikon. Kunnskapsforlaget. 2007. Archived from the original on 23 February 2013.
  7. ^ Norwegian News Agency (29 January 1992). "Omfattende orkan-hærverk på skogen".
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Aune, Bjørn; Harstveit, Knut (3 August 1992). "The storm of January 1. 1992" (PDF). Meteorologisk institutt.
  9. ^ a b c Gronas, Sigbjorn (October 1995). "The seclusion intensification of the New Year's day storm 1992". Tellus A. 47 (5): 733–746. doi:10.1034/j.1600-0870.1995.00116.x. ISSN 0280-6495.
  10. ^ a b "Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale". www.nhc.noaa.gov. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  11. ^ Spensberger, Clemens; Schemm, Sebastian (23 April 2020). "Front–orography interactions during landfall of the 1992 New Year's Day Storm". Weather and Climate Dynamics. 1 (1): 175–189. doi:10.5194/wcd-1-175-2020. hdl:20.500.11850/411458. S2CID 218997732.
  12. ^ a b c d Ponce de Leon, Sonia (December 2013). "ERA Interim wind field for 1st January 1992 at 06UTC". Researchgate.net. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  13. ^ Kongsberg, Freddy; Tom-Egil Jensen (15 January 1992). "Hjelp! Vi er ikke i nød!". VG.
  14. ^ a b Olsen, Espen (16 January 1992). "Hemmelig jakt på fattige". VG.
  15. ^ "Orkanaksjon". Aftenposten Aften. 16 January 1992.
  16. ^ a b c d "The Hogmanay Hurricane - Shetland Dec 91/jan 92". Netweather Community Weather Forum. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Saxa Vord from The Gazetteer for Scotland". www.scottish-places.info. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  18. ^ "Hermaness Hike". Shetland.org. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Fogg, Rob (3 January 1992). "Unhappy New Year as Homes are Blown Apart" (PDF). Shetland Times. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  20. ^ "Muckle Flugga". Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  21. ^ Skinner, Simon. "Sullom Voe Port Information". Shetland Islands Council. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  22. ^ "The Statfjord area". www.equinor.com. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  23. ^ "Svinøy Lighthouse", Wikipedia, 24 July 2022, retrieved 7 January 2023
  24. ^ "Skalmen Lighthouse", Wikipedia, 3 July 2022, retrieved 7 January 2023
  25. ^ "Ålesund Airport, Vigra", Wikipedia, 21 December 2022, retrieved 7 January 2023
  26. ^ "Halten Lighthouse", Wikipedia, 7 March 2022, retrieved 7 January 2023
  27. ^ "Molde Airport - Avinor". avinor.no. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  28. ^ "Akraberg", Wikipedia, 7 March 2022, retrieved 7 January 2023
  29. ^ "Suðuroy", Wikipedia, 1 January 2023, retrieved 7 January 2023
  30. ^ "Sumburgh Airport", Wikipedia, 1 January 2023, retrieved 7 January 2023
  31. ^ a b "MWR_1991_12 | Met Office UA". digital.nmla.metoffice.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  32. ^ "Butt of Lewis Lighthouse", Wikipedia, 7 March 2022, retrieved 7 January 2023
  33. ^ "Lerwick topographic map, elevation, terrain". Topographic maps. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  34. ^ "Orkney & Shetland". Alistair Carmichael. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  35. ^ "#GetOutside: do more in the British Outdoors". OS GetOutside. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  36. ^ "Tórshavn topographic map, elevation, terrain". Topographic maps. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  37. ^ "Tórshavn", Wikipedia, 24 December 2022, retrieved 7 January 2023
  38. ^ a b "£500,000 in 1992 → 2023 | UK Inflation Calculator". www.in2013dollars.com. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  39. ^ Carle, Gordon (8 September 2010). "A History of RAF Saxa Vord: The Baltasound Hotel and the Storm of 91/92". A History of RAF Saxa Vord. Retrieved 8 January 2023.

Books Edit

October 15, 2023
1992, year, storm, year, storm, norwegian, nyttårsorkanen, known, scotland, hogmanay, hurricane, intense, european, windstorm, that, affected, much, northern, scotland, western, norway, january, 1992, dnmi, estimated, strongest, sustained, winds, average, stro. The New Year s Day Storm Norwegian Nyttarsorkanen known in Scotland as the Hogmanay Hurricane was an intense European windstorm that affected much of northern Scotland and western Norway on 1 January 1992 DNMI estimated the strongest sustained winds 10 min average and the strongest gusts to have reached 103 mph 166 km h 46 m s and 138 mph 222 km h 62 m s respectively 1 Unofficial records of gusts in excess of 170 knots 87 m s were recorded in Shetland while Statfjord B in the North Sea recorded wind gusts in excess of 145 knots 75 m s There were very few fatalities mainly due to the rather low population of the islands the fact that the islanders are used to powerful winds and because it struck in the morning on a public holiday when people were indoors In Norway there was one fatality in Frei More og Romsdal county There were also two fatalities on Unst in the Shetland Isles Despite being referred to by some as a Hurricane the storm was Extratropical in origin and is classified as an Extratropical Cyclone Satellite image of the New Year Hurricane that hit Norway 1 January 1992 Image taken 04 UTC Contents 1 Meteorological synopsis 2 Impact 2 1 Norway 2 2 United Kingdom 2 3 Damages 3 References 4 BooksMeteorological synopsis EditThe New Year s Day Storm was classified as an Extratropical Cyclone also known as a Mid latitude cyclone which are common in this part of the world especially during the winter and autumn months 2 In Europe these are habitually referred to as European Windstorms By 1200 UTC on 31 December 1991 an Atlantic low pressure centre of 985 mb had developed at the left exit of a strong WSW jet stream and was at 57 N 27 W At this time a very sharp thermal trough cold air extended from south west Iceland to the Hebrides with a thermal ridge building warm air behind it in the Atlantic 3 A satellite image at 1600 UTC on 31 December showed a clear eye in the cloud comma which indicates the dry air from the stratosphere descending into the developing low pressure as is a signature of explosive cyclogenesis By 1800 UTC the low had deepened to 966mb 3 At midnight 0000 UTC 1 January the left exit of the jet stream was just behind the top of a sharp thermal ridge just west of Faroe rapidly deepening the low centre to 957mb Travelling at a speed of around 55 knots 63 mph 102 km h 28 m s the low continued to deepen as it passed over Faroe and to the north of Shetland Pressure falls were 5mb hr across Shetland and 7mb hr across Faroe 3 The strongest winds arrived over the Shetland islands between 0100 UTC and dawn 4 The system is described as a Weather Bomb due to its explosive cyclogenesis exceeding the criteria of deepening by 24 mb in 24 hours greatly 5 Explosive cyclogenesis usually occurs where dry air from the stratosphere flows down into a developing low pressure area and causes air within the depression to rise very quickly This will increase its rotation which in turn deepens the low pressure centre and creates a more vigorous storm 3 The New Year s Day Weather Bomb may have experienced double explosive cyclogenesis firstly from the draw down of cold dry air from the stratosphere and secondly the intercept of this already rapid development in the left exit of the jet stream with the warm air of a marked thermal ridge 3 New Year s Day StormFormed30th December 1991Duration4 daysDissipated3rd January 1992Highest winds 150 mph 240 km h 67 m s Highest gust gt 200 mph 320 km h 89 m s Beaufort scale12Lowest pressure947 mb 27 96 inHg Fatalities3DamageUnknown Power outagesUnknown Areas affectedUnited Kingdom Faroe Islands NorwayPart of 1991 1992 European Windstorm SeasonImpact EditNorway Edit The New Year s Day Storm was the most devastating windstorm in modern Norwegian history in terms of material damage 29 000 buildings were affected 6 as well as large quantities of productive forest 7 In Norway the total damage cost was estimated to more than 2 billion NOK 1992 values adjusted for inflation equals nearly 4 billion NOK 2023 values or 400 million USD Norwegian mass media wrote afterwards that it was a once in 300 years hurricane Meteorologists suggested rather that it had a wind speed with a repeat period of about 50 200 years varying from region to region 8 It had the highest wind speed measured in Norway until then and has not repeated at least for the first 30 years after it Despite the extremely strong winds only 1 death was reported in Norway The maximum gusts recorded in Norway during the storm was 139 mph 224 km h 62 m s 8 which was recorded at 2 lighthouses Svinoy and Skalmen in More og Romsdal county Furthermore the strongest 1 minute sustained winds in Norway of 117 mph 188 km h 52 m s also were registered at these 2 lighthouses which is equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir Simpson Scale 9 10 8 The Norwegian Meteorological Institute MET Norway Norwegian Meteorologisk Instituut estimated that the wind gusts rose as high as 135 mph 217 km h 60 m s 11 At Alesund Airport in Vigra for example wind gusts of 123 mph 198 km h 55 m s were recorded 12 Reliable wind data for the West coast of Norway is difficult to source due to the remoteness of the region After the storm a relief action called Aksjon Orkan was set up based in Oslo a city which was not affected by the windstorm Reactions among the populace in the affected areas were mixed The action was supported by the County Governor of More og Romsdal but the mayor of Vanylven scorned the perceived intent to collect food and clothes for the windstorm victims stating the lack of need for such aid 13 The people behind the action later claimed that this was never the purpose 14 By the middle of January Aksjon Orkan had collected NOK 600 800 000 14 15 United Kingdom Edit This storm is regarded to be the most powerful storm to have hit the UK in reliable recorded history and is a contender for the world s strongest extratropical cyclone in terms of raw windspeeds 3 In the UK Scotland was worst affected The wind was most severe in the Northern Isles especially in Shetland In Shetland widespread structural damage was reported and 2 people were killed after their bird watching hut on Hermaness was destroyed during the violent gales 16 The depression travelled towards the UK from off the coast of Canada on the 30 31 December 1991 travelling at 63 mph 101 km h 28 m s 3 4 The Met Office recognised the systems progression and subsequently issued warnings for parts of Scotland on the evening of the 31st December 4 The strongest winds hit the Shetland Isles and Orkney Isles beginning during the late evening hours of the 31st December 1991 with the strongest winds being from 01 00 to dawn on the 1st January 1992 local time 4 The strongest winds were recorded at RAF Saxa Vord located on Unst at the northern tip of the Shetland Islands which recorded winds gusting to over 197 mph 317 km h 88 m s 4 3 however as the station and recording instruments were destroyed this has not been verified as an official record for the United Kingdom and peak wind data is unobtainable 4 Nevertheless given damage and remoteness of the islands it is expected that winds in some parts will have most certainly been higher at gt 200 mph 320 km h 89 m s 4 Maximum recorded wind gusts recorded during the storm in the UK Norway and the Faroe Islands Location Wind gust 1 minute Sustained Winds Elevation NotesRAF Saxa Vord Unst UK gt 200 mph 320 km h 89 m s 4 Unknown 285 m 935 ft 17 Equipment failure and severe damage to site 4 Hermaness Shetland UK gt 200 mph 320 km h 89 m s 4 gt 120 mph 190 km h 54 m s 4 18 m 59 ft 18 19 Estimation derived due to damage and proximity to RAF Saxa Vord location where 2 birdwatchers were hurled over a cliff 16 Muckle Flugga Lighthouse Unst UK 200 mph 320 km h 89 m s 3 19 gt 120 mph 190 km h 54 m s 4 19 66 m 217 ft 20 172 mph was the max the station was able to record Anemometer head snapped off Sustained winds of gt 120 mph for more than half an hour 3 4 19 Sullom Voe Harbour Shetland UK Unknown 150 mph 240 km h 67 m s 4 0 m 0 ft 21 A steady 150 mph wind recorded by boats moored at Sullom Voe Harbour Bft 14 4 Statfjord B Shetland UK 194 mph 312 km h 87 m s 3 125 mph 201 km h 56 m s 16 0 m 0 ft 22 Report made just offshore by the UK Norwegian shared oil platform Svinoy Lighthouse Svinoy island Norway 139 mph 224 km h 62 m s 8 102 mph 164 km h 46 m s 8 35 m 115 ft 23 Joint highest sustained winds value in Norway 9 Skalmen Lighthouse Smola Norway 139 mph 224 km h 62 m s 8 102 mph 164 km h 46 m s 8 16 m 52 ft 24 Joint highest sustained wind value in Norway 9 Alesund Airport Vigra Norway 123 mph 198 km h 55 m s 12 76 mph 122 km h 34 m s 12 21 m 69 ft 25 Strongest winds occurred during the daylight hours 12 Halten Lighthouse Froya Norway 123 mph 198 km h 55 m s 8 89 mph 143 km h 40 m s 70 m 230 ft 26 Extrapolated data above graph limit 8 Molde Airport Aro Norway 121 mph 195 km h 54 m s 8 Unknown 3 m 9 8 ft 27 Mean wind registration failed 8 Akraberg Faroe Islands Denmark Unknown 92 mph 148 km h 41 m s 3 94 m 308 ft 28 Southern tip of Suduroy Danish Sudero 29 Sumburgh Shetland UK 113 mph 182 km h 51 m s 3 76 mph 122 km h 34 m s 3 60 min mean 6 m 20 ft 30 Recorded at Sumburgh Airport 3 Butt of Lewis Outer Hebrides UK 110 mph 180 km h 49 m s 31 Unknown 37 m 121 ft 32 The highest wind gust recorded in the UK outside of the Northern Isles 31 Lerwick Shetland UK 109 mph 175 km h 49 m s 3 72 mph 116 km h 32 m s 3 60 min mean 82 m 269 ft 33 Home to over 20 000 people Lerwick is the capital and largest town of the Shetland Islands 34 Sella Ness Shetland UK gt 98 mph 158 km h 44 m s 3 gt 72 mph 116 km h 32 m s 3 60 min mean 10 m 33 ft 35 Inconsistent data reporting from this station indicating potentially stronger winds 3 Torshavn Faroe Islands Denmark Unknown 69 mph 111 km h 31 m s 3 24 m 79 ft 36 Home to over 14 000 people 1992 Torshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands 37 It is important to recognise that due to the strength of winds many stations failed at reporting values higher than they were programmed to such as Muckle Flugga This station was incapable of reporting a value above 150 kn 170 mph 280 km h 77 m s therefore it reached 150 kn and couldn t go any higher despite winds being stronger Some stations too were destroyed at a certain threshold and therefore did not provide data for what the peak winds are estimated to be The strongest sustained winds were reported at Sullom Voe Harbour on Shetland with a steady 150 mph wind reported by ships sheltering in the harbour 4 These winds are equivalent to those that are found in Category 4 hurricanes on the Saffir Simpson Scale 10 Likewise the strongest gusts were experienced over the northern section of the Shetland Islands with gusts of over 200 mph 320 km h 89 m s being reported UnstLocation nbsp nbsp UnstUnst shown within ScotlandCoordinates60 45 N 0 53 W 60 75 N 0 89 W 60 75 0 89Physical geographyIsland groupShetlandAdministrationSovereign stateUnited KingdomCountryScotland nbsp Damages Edit Severe structural damage was reported across the Shetland Isles with 2 tourists aged 26 and 22 having been killed after their birdwatching hut was destroyed by gales of over 200 mph 16 The remains of the tourists were found shoeless one of them a short distance south along the path to the hut and the other more than half a mile to the east at the foot of an 18 metre cliff 19 The RAF Saxa Vord station located at the northern tip of the Shetland islands also suffered from devastating damage with all 3 radomes used by the British Armed Forces for NATO intelligence being completely destroyed for the second time after being destroyed in 1960 by 170 mph wind gusts 19 Nearby a 30 m 98 ft radio mast was snapped in half 4 When questioned Squadron leader Nicholas Gordon assured that national security had not suffered but did not say if the surviving radars designed to detect Soviet bombers and missiles were still functional 4 The Saxa Vord station suffered some of the most dramatic damage with sections of the building seen with foundations swept clean of any construction 19 On Unst the worst affect island by the storm caravans and boats were reportedly flying through the air and one caravan disappeared completely presumably into the ocean 4 Fish farms were badly hit with 1 3 million adjusted for inflation worth of Salmon escaped from torn nets and smashed cages surviving farms were offered record prices for their fish due to shortages 4 38 Severe damage was reported to the 19th Century St Magnus Bay Hotel in Hillswick which was shifted on its foundations and the next door The Booth Shetland s oldest pub 4 took a battering with the carpark being washed away the combined repairs for these two buildings was expected to cost 1 3 million adjusted for inflation 4 38 Hagdale Lodge Hotel which had capacity for 50 offshore oilrig workers was nearly completely destroyed The exterior walls of the lodge were collapsed in on themselves and the site was deemed unusable with new lodges arriving from Derbyshire and a complete rebranding off the site 39 Two wings of the hotel had been disintegrated and blew into the sea 0 5 miles 0 80 km away and the remaining had been punctured by flying wood and glass which embedded the standing walls 19 In Sundraquoy a woman narrowly escaped being crushed by a collapsing chimney which landed on her bed whilst she was away from home 19 A home on West Yell had its roof removed and blown 50 yards across the A968 before dropping back into the earth In a caravan park in Lerwick 22 caravans were destroyed 8 of which had been thrown through the air seriously injuring 2 people and an uninsured caravan was toppled after being struck by a neighbouring caravan 19 4 The museum at Swedish Kirk constructed as a memorial to Swedish fishermen had been ruined with the building being launched 20 ft into the air 19 References Edit Meteorologisk institutt Meteorologisk institutt Insurance impacts of European windstorms stories ecmwf int Retrieved 7 January 2023 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Fraser P A Shetland s Weather Bomb The Development of the New Year s Day Storm of 01st January 1992 Academia edu a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w Carle Gordon 10 July 2010 A History of RAF Saxa Vord The Storm New Year 1991 92 Part 1 A History of RAF Saxa Vord p The Sunday Times 12 January 1992 Retrieved 7 January 2023 What is a weather bomb Met Office Retrieved 7 January 2023 Nyttarsorkanen Aschehoug og Gyldendals Store norske leksikon Kunnskapsforlaget 2007 Archived from the original on 23 February 2013 Norwegian News Agency 29 January 1992 Omfattende orkan haerverk pa skogen a b c d e f g h i j k Aune Bjorn Harstveit Knut 3 August 1992 The storm of January 1 1992 PDF Meteorologisk institutt a b c Gronas Sigbjorn October 1995 The seclusion intensification of the New Year s day storm 1992 Tellus A 47 5 733 746 doi 10 1034 j 1600 0870 1995 00116 x ISSN 0280 6495 a b Saffir Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale www nhc noaa gov Retrieved 7 January 2023 Spensberger Clemens Schemm Sebastian 23 April 2020 Front orography interactions during landfall of the 1992 New Year s Day Storm Weather and Climate Dynamics 1 1 175 189 doi 10 5194 wcd 1 175 2020 hdl 20 500 11850 411458 S2CID 218997732 a b c d Ponce de Leon Sonia December 2013 ERA Interim wind field for 1st January 1992 at 06UTC Researchgate net Retrieved 7 January 2023 Kongsberg Freddy Tom Egil Jensen 15 January 1992 Hjelp Vi er ikke i nod VG a b Olsen Espen 16 January 1992 Hemmelig jakt pa fattige VG Orkanaksjon Aftenposten Aften 16 January 1992 a b c d The Hogmanay Hurricane Shetland Dec 91 jan 92 Netweather Community Weather Forum Retrieved 7 January 2023 Saxa Vord from The Gazetteer for Scotland www scottish places info Retrieved 7 January 2023 Hermaness Hike Shetland org Retrieved 7 January 2023 a b c d e f g h i j k Fogg Rob 3 January 1992 Unhappy New Year as Homes are Blown Apart PDF Shetland Times Retrieved 7 January 2023 Muckle Flugga Northern Lighthouse Board Retrieved 7 January 2023 Skinner Simon Sullom Voe Port Information Shetland Islands Council Retrieved 7 January 2023 The Statfjord area www equinor com Retrieved 7 January 2023 Svinoy Lighthouse Wikipedia 24 July 2022 retrieved 7 January 2023 Skalmen Lighthouse Wikipedia 3 July 2022 retrieved 7 January 2023 Alesund Airport Vigra Wikipedia 21 December 2022 retrieved 7 January 2023 Halten Lighthouse Wikipedia 7 March 2022 retrieved 7 January 2023 Molde Airport Avinor avinor no Retrieved 7 January 2023 Akraberg Wikipedia 7 March 2022 retrieved 7 January 2023 Suduroy Wikipedia 1 January 2023 retrieved 7 January 2023 Sumburgh Airport Wikipedia 1 January 2023 retrieved 7 January 2023 a b MWR 1991 12 Met Office UA digital nmla metoffice gov uk Retrieved 7 January 2023 Butt of Lewis Lighthouse Wikipedia 7 March 2022 retrieved 7 January 2023 Lerwick topographic map elevation terrain Topographic maps Retrieved 7 January 2023 Orkney amp Shetland Alistair Carmichael Retrieved 7 January 2023 GetOutside do more in the British Outdoors OS GetOutside Retrieved 7 January 2023 Torshavn topographic map elevation terrain Topographic maps Retrieved 7 January 2023 Torshavn Wikipedia 24 December 2022 retrieved 7 January 2023 a b 500 000 in 1992 2023 UK Inflation Calculator www in2013dollars com Retrieved 7 January 2023 Carle Gordon 8 September 2010 A History of RAF Saxa Vord The Baltasound Hotel and the Storm of 91 92 A History of RAF Saxa Vord Retrieved 8 January 2023 Books EditBruaset Oddgeir 1992 Orkanen The Hurricane Oslo Det Norske Samlaget ISBN 82 521 3909 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1992 New Year 27s Day Storm amp oldid 1170300823, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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