4 Weather – January 2007, Vol. 62, No. 1 Part 1–the deepestdepressions pressure in theBritishIsles, ofbarometricExtremes The Lowest oftheLows . charts are baseduponthissourcecharts (hereafter and manyable extent; oftheobservations draws ofnecessity consider- tokind avery cal heritage, onwhichany account ofthis provided auniqueandlastingmeteorologi- Office’sthe BritishMet (when thepublicationwasdiscontinued), major synopticfeatures. From 1860to 1980 infer the positionandmovement ofthe studies:these canbeusedto ‘case history’ sites, sometimes inreasonably complete from anumberof barometric observations writers documented wind, weather and notable storms before 1860,contemporary ular form covering theBritishIsles. For afew intab- published synchronised observations September 1860,there were noroutinely issue ofthe over thearea ofinterest. Prior to thefirst madesimultaneously ofobservations chart sequence ofweather events isto draw upa The firststep inattempting to follow a Historical data onrecord.intense anticyclones continues thediscussionfor themost paper,tary month, to bepublishednext notation asfarpossible. Acomplemen- stated –andmodernsynoptic otherwise pressures reduced to meansealevel unless units–with presented incontemporary (inHg), butallinformation inthispaperis of pressure were madeininchesofmercury older events. light ofmodernsynopticanalyses for the inthe charts where possible ‘reconstructing’ with accounts ofassociated weather, and period ofinstrumentalrecords, together have crossed theBritishIsleswithin several to ofthedeepestdepressions known of thispaperisto present briefaccounts of volumes notreadily available. The purpose these events are buriedincentury-old the synopticdocumentationofmany of British Islesare reasonably but well-known, ofbarometricExtremes pressure inthe Stratfield Mortimer, Berkshire Stephen Burt Prior to about1914most measurements Daily WeatherDaily Report Daily WeatherDaily Report on 3 barometric have pressures allbeen onEarth The lowest reliably documented sea-level How low islow? ( Weather Centre data have beenobtainedfrom theLondon publishedaccounts. Sinceporary 1980chart from contem- with additionalobservations referred to asthe only theoriginal reference isquoted here. analyses are presented inthelater paper same storm, butunlessnewinformation or papers onsimilarevents refer often to the the events to whichtheyrefer. Subsequent after accounts publishedshortly temporary orfrom onlinesources.charts DWS The references quoted are usuallycon- ), from archived working Office Met Daily WeatherDaily Summary DWR ), often augmented), often Figure 1.Locations ofplaces referred to inthetext USAF ntewrdi h 7 mbarrecorded by a in theworld isthe870 tropical storms. Lowest onrecord anywhere recorded closeto thecentres ofintense tropical storms occur inintense North 1988). Caribbean on13September 1988(Eden, west ofGrand Cayman Islandinthewestern mbarintheeye ofhurricane and 885 12 hours(National Weather 2005) Service mbarin 2005, following adeepeningof88 the eye ofhurricane Ida mbar at19°N135°Eintheeye oftyphoon mbaronrecord –for instance 877 below 900 there are ahandfulofotheroccurrences 1979,and on12October 46’E 137° 16° 44’N, typhoon The lowest sea-level pressures outsideof n2 etme 98 8 mbarin 1958,882 on 24September aircraft dropsondeaircraft intheeye of Tip about 500 km west ofGuamat about 500km Wilma on 19October Gilbert The Lowest of the Lows Weather – January 2007, Vol. 62, No. 1 5 The Law of 1902, 28, , (Dove, 1828, transl. FitzRoy, 1858) FitzRoy, 1828, transl. (Dove, Daily Weather ReportDaily Weather pp. 39–40 – also Burt,pp. 1987 Shipping Gazette, 1870, as reported9 February in Soc. J. R. Meteorol. Q. sion close to England’s south coast on the on south coast England’s sion close to storm exceptional This morning of the 25th. be mapped in a recog- was one of the first to chart’‘synoptic nisable and indeed format, Brandes published by the map of this storm as one of the world’s (1826) can be regarded 1999). A maps (Monmonier, first weather formu- Heinrich Dove, student of Brandes, one of the earliestlated explanations of the from as resulting mid-latitude storms opposing between cold warm and contest in his classic work air currents Storms of this event detailed analysis following wind and listed Dove amongst others. observationsbarometer as values (the latter in 45 places for differences’) ‘pressure of times (18 four in Britain – for – five Europe h on the 24th, 03 h, 10 h and 20 h on 25th) hours are all four Data for during this storm. including 17 of the 45 stations, for available dif- ‘Pressure ‘London’. in an unspecified site ferences’ rather than actual quoted were determination station values as the accurate mean sea level of station altitudes above , Atlantic , Atlantic Anon, 1933 at 49°N 26°W Neier Westpool (exact location not stated) at 61°N 32°W near 62°N 15°W Scotland 1800 UTC 1200 UTC in Perthshire Northern at least a part of the mainland of the British KingdomIsles (the United or and Ireland) outlying islands on at least 30 occasions in southern England MSL 2): even (Table 950values below been recorded mbar have have of these occasions On only five twice. 940 below pressures barometric mbar been obvious Although, for documented. reliably the majority of the events reasons, northerndescribed affected and western completeness geographical districts, for below fell when the pressure both occasions about 950 mbar in southern England are of the of many Locations also included. in given in the text to are referred places Figure minimum observed pres- 1. Finally, given decades are within the last few sures a selection of long-period stations and for the British Isles. mapped for 25 December 1821 in A long spell of unsettled weather a climax with the 1821 reached December passage of an extraordinarily deep depres- pressures of 930 mbar or lower, last 200 years approximately. This table is probably incomplete. This table is probably approximately. years last 200 of 930 mbar or lower, pressures MSL ship report pressure central pressure central pressure central land observation pressure central pressure central pressure central LOWEST NORTH ATLANTIC ON RECORD pressure central pressure central land observation land observation land observation ship report 5 January 1983 198614/15 December 916 mbar mbar 930 South-east of Greenland Just south of Iceland Burt, 1987 contemporary notes Author’s 3 January 1933 mbar 927.2 198924 December 920 mbar A little below Reykjavik, at 07h Iceland Anon, 1933 of Iceland South-west 20038 March contemporary notes Author’s 928 mbarW at Near 51° N, 39° contemporary notes Author’s 19 December 194519 December 927 mbar approx. 19922 March Between and Iceland Ireland 10 January 1993 926 mbar 912–915 mbar 20021 February 928 mbar and Iceland Between Off Newfoundland Burt, 1993 contemporary notes Author’s Near 60.5°N, 15°W at contemporary notes Author’s 5 February 18705 February 921.1 mbar Ship 4 February 1824 4 February 924 mbar Reykjavik, Iceland 59 Met 1975, p. Office, Date pressure MSL barometric 26 January 1884 Location 18868 December 925.6 mbar 19294 December 927.2 mbar 925.5 mbar Reference Ochtertyre, near Crieff Belfast, article This SS article This Within the period of reasonably reliable the period of reasonably Within Known occurrences of NorthKnown occurrences Atlantic Table 1 Table instrumental records (approximately 200 (approximately instrumental records at mean sea level the barometer years), over 950 mbar or below (MSL) has fallen to Atlantic mid-winter cyclones. The deepest The cyclones. mid-winter Atlantic known (all those below such depressions 930Table in order in date shown mbar) are a map of the low- (1983) reproduced 1. Perry est surface-level known have to pressures the the North over over Atlantic occurred south-west period 1931–1965. Only the area pressures with was credited of Iceland closed isobar with a small 930 mbar, below indicating 925 about mbar or less centred It is very likely that modern 60°N 20°W. observation networks and communications and in- information) (including satellite models computer sophisticated creasingly the position pin down likely to far more are and depth of such extreme depressions half a been the case even have than would air this increased but against century ago, reduction in in a great traffic has resulted surface observations the North from shipping routes. Atlantic 6 Weather – January 2007, Vol. 62, No. 1 The Lowest of the Lows tracted to obtainanapproximatetracted wassub- was assumed:thenoted departure sonable average for Europe inDecember) mbar(representing area- a datumof1016 www.worldclimate.com), andfor the others normals were usedwhere available (from this reconstruction modernMSLpressure pressure averaged over several years). For (it wasprobably meanannualstation-level difference hasbeentaken wasnotspecified thedatumfromUnfortunately whichthe MSL stilllay many years inthefuture. station-level barometer readings to thoseat (MSL) andthemethodologyofreducing er withthetabulated information onwind but plottingthevaluessoobtained togeth- mbar)indoingthis, of error (ofupto about5 for eachstation. There are obvious sources Table 2 This tableisprobably incomplete. For thedatesshown abriefdescriptionfollows inboldtype inthemainbodyoftext. Known occurrencesKnown of aeLowest known Date 5Jnay19 4 brna dnug,1hAuthor’s notes Author’s notes Author’s notes Wheeler, 1984 Author’s notes Rona,offNWScotland, 2300UTC 946mbarNorth Table 3 945.6mbarAberdeen/Dyce 07h 01h,944.4mbarLerwick 949mbarnearEdinburgh, 16h 2005 11 January 25 December 1999 1995 17 January 944.0mbarBenbecula, Western Isles 1990 25 January 949mbarMoray Firth, 16–17 December 1989 948mbarHebrides 25 February 1989 9 February 1988 Symons, 1900 1984 13 January Cork 947.1mbarMidleton, 00h29/30th 1984 2 January 20 December 1982 1 December 1966 0915h 948.0mbarDeerness, Orkney 948.6mbar Valentia 00h18/19th 30 November 1954 4 February 1951 950mbarLleynPeninsula, North Wales 18-19 December 1945 946.8mbarCawdor Castle, NE Scotland 1 February 1938 6 December 1929 29 December 1899 1891 14 October Buchan, 1884 946.1mbar Wick 18h 8 December 1886 946.5mbarSumburgh 15h 1884 26 January 11 November 1877 944.8mbarDolgellau, North Wales 9 March 1876 947.6mbarCulloden, Inverness 1100h 1872 19 January 31 December 1865 22 November 1865 27 December 1852 1843 13 January 1839 7 January 28 November 1838 25 December 1821 MSL pressures below 950mbarintheBritishIsles, last200years approximately. 927.2 mbar Belfast See text See text See text See 950 mbar Valentia, SWIreland 927.2 mbarBelfast BRITISH ISLESRECORD LOWEST text See nrCrieff 925.6 mbarOchtertyre, text See LtHo,939.7 mbarMonach Hebrides text See text See Lighthouse,945.5 mbarMonach Hebrides text See Co.948-949 mbarMarkree, c 931mbarSumburgh Head, Shetland 931.2 mbarLimerick(?MSL?),941.5Armagh London 945.8 mbarNorth 942.8 mbar See text See text See text See text See Ireland 943.2 mbarBelmullet,north-west text See text See 942.8 mbarCork Airport 948.8 mbarPortland, Dorset 950.6mbar06h Kinloss 937.6 mbarStornoway 942.6 mbarCarrigans, NIreland Cork 942.3 mbarMidleton, MSL value This is supported by LukeThis Howard’s issupported mbar. suggests MSLpressure around 948 this hour, whichby thereasoning above by Dove as66mbarbelow datumlevel at 2;the pressure inLondon wasgiven Figure hisshown in A tentative analysis for 03 temperature contrast over western Europe. Hamburg, would indicate anexceptional heat beingnoted atParis, Boulogne and together of withan 15.7°C, “unusual”degree the temperature at0130onthe25thwas thatatGeneva andthefact Italy in northern onthe24that Tolmezzoperature of31.4°C ofashade tem- instance, theobservations made from othernotes inDove’s paper–for inferencesSome canbe on airmass types for westerntent seriesofcharts Europe. yieldedareasonablydirections self-consis- MSL rsueadst Reference/s pressure andsite Daily WeatherDaily Report WeatherDaily Report Monthly Weather Report WeatherDaily Report 1973 Office Met WeatherDaily Report WeatherDaily Report British Rainfall, Daily WeatherDaily Report 4. mbar(atMSL)atthesametime 948.7 –seealsoFigure 3)and 945.8mbar mbar(corrected to MSL 1822) of942.4 h(Howard at observation* Tottenham at05 north London. north were stated clearly by himasbeing madein on24–25December 1821 but hisobservations Luke Howard owned asmallestate atAckworth, – be arare locationattributionerror onhispart near Pontefract, onthissamedate: butthismay mbaratAckworth, Symons (1892)quotes 945.5 1847. For more details, seeBlench(1963). many of his observations in many ofhisobservations Tottenham from 1814to 1828andpublished in (barograph) ‘clock-barometer’ mercury self-recording withanearly observations cloud nomenclature (Hamblyn,2001),made * Luke Howard, for better known hiswork on 1865 p. 42 , Symons, 1876, Annual Summary Barometrographia in The Lowest of the Lows Weather – January 2007, Vol. 62, No. 1 7 Figure 6). The 6). Figure did not become op. cit., op. MSL pressures (correcting station- (correcting pressures MSL about 9am 7 January 1839 The depression arrived from the Atlantic from arrived depression The Fitzgerald 1989) to which readers are which readers 1989) to Fitzgerald of of the severity account a full for referred which caused immense damage the gale, in Ireland, loss of life and considerable Scotland and north-west More England. Burtrecently the extant (2006) analysed this from readings barometer station-level correc- retrospective and attempted storm tions to level pressures to to pressures level normal practice in the British Isles until the synoptic 1850s) and reconstructed late 09h on 7 for analysis suggested The charts. the 4 (from January as Figure is shown 1839 in Burtoriginal 2006, central pressure of the depression probably of the depression pressure central mbar, 930 its minimum, around reached about this time. at 40–50 knots the west-south-west, from Figure 4. Synoptic situation at 09h situation 4. Synoptic Figure on 7 January Burt1839, from (2006) Figure 3. The world’s first published barograph chart – Luke Howard’s ‘clock- Howard’s chart – Luke first published barograph world’s 3. The Figure north for London, Tottenham, from record barometer’ (mercury barograph) of 25 December. the extreme depth of the depression 1821, showing December MSL (add about 4 to not corrected are values The is mbar) and the original scale on the right. From given are in inches of mercury millibar equivalents (inHg) – XIII Plate (1822), Howard A detailed account of the storm was of the storm A detailed account on this date, and stated, “. . . on this occasion “. and stated, on this date, at the Ordnance readings the barometrical Survey , had ranged below Office, 28in. (948mbar) as might and, 24 hours, for be expected depres- with such an extensive had been no storm.”Thesion, there records the Armagh Observatoryfrom for online at . 1838 (available November that the minimum value of show arm.ac.uk) 934.9mbar pressure*: a station level was observed and for correcting temperature an MSL value close known altitude gives site 941.5mbar.to It is very likely that the pressure value is also a station-level the in accepting and thus caution is required (although the MSL of the reading veracity 2–3mbar). just be small, would correction In the Dublin observation, with contrast at ESE” from “Gales Armagh, in the noted are No further details of observation register. known. are the event 6–7 January 1839 of 6–7 January depression The 1839 is only known being the remarkable occur- for cyclone 940 mbar of a second below rence the British Isles in a single winter cross to after the occasion season, only six weeks 104–5) pp. Rohan (1975, described above. this storm, caused by describes the havoc more caused . . . probably “it and concludes, damage in Ireland than any widespread night has This centuries. in recent storm ‘The Night Big of the legendarybecome as Wind’.” mark its 150th anniversaryassembled to by Servicethe Irish Meteorological (Shields and * Ten readings were taken between 3.35 a.m. and taken between were readings Ten * at 7.55 a.m. 11 a.m.; the minimum was noted (1833, The Climate of London 25 December 1821 at 03h 1821 at 25 December After rising 40mbarAfter the 27th the by Figure 2. Suggested synoptic situation at 03 synoptic situation 2. Suggested Figure of 1821. Locations h on 25 December see text for sources circles: red by marked observations are pressure 28 November 1838 28 November of 931.2mbar a reading Rohan (1975) cites (probably Ireland at Limerick in south-west of Limerick, a little south-west the at Adare, as Adare) Viscount home of the observer, barometer November lowest Ireland’s the 220) quoted Marriott (1873, p. reading. at Armagh in then on record reading lowest Northernwhat is now as 934.9mbar Ireland Greenwich ObservatoryGreenwich (Marriott 1884, p.121). 06 At Epping, h at Essex (about 25 km north-east it was of London) 951.6 Middlesex and at Sion House, mbar, at 08h 956.7mbar 1872, p.10, (Symons retrospec- Marriott 1873). Both values are although the MSL values, corrected tively value appearslatter about 5mbar high. too at noted were pressures Hourly station-level Epping most of the 24-hour period com- for given and are mencing 16h on 24 December in Howard’s barometer fell once more overnight 28/29 overnight more once fell barometer within 6–8 mbar of the 25 to December rising sharply before values, December days. three some 65 mbar in the following pp. 948mbar noted 69–70). Howard (about 951mbar data 08h, at MSL) at and Dove’s implies about 960mbar at MSL at 10h.This was without doubt the deepest depression affect southern England during instru- to mental history reasonably – in London extend back almost 250 records continuous con- of any of wind had no storm “We years. . . . It depression after this great sequence of the that a like state the papers, appears by observed was extensively at the barometer and that verysame time on the Continent, the it, far to attended weather tempestuous south of our island” 1833). (Howard 8 Weather – January 2007, Vol. 62, No. 1 The Lowest of the Lows reaching 1045.4mbar atBodmin onthe reaching 1045.4mbar December 1865–withthebarometer weatherA longspellofanticyclonic during 1865 31 December and sunriseon14th”. few gustsofwind between midnightof13th track ofthedepression, there were “only a expected. At Carlisle, whichlay closeto the storm damageasperhapsmighthave been account doesnotspecificallymention rary weather are available butIck’s contempo- 1873).Nootherdetailsofthe Marriott (thelatter from at1400h 955.1mbar andinNorwich mbarat1335h, 955.4 Cambridge theMSLminimumwas In atGreenwich at1253h. 957.2mbar House, atSomerset and noted at1245h were London, MSLpressures of 956.7mbar In (now Borders Region, Scotland) at1315h. nearKelsoinRoxburghshire Observatory atMakerstown Symons was950.5mbar MSLvalueaccepted by ‘indisputable’ were atthetime). notknown The lowest tions are unstated (inallprobability, they loca- storm astheheightsofobserving than station-level) valuesreached inthis difficult to besure ofthelowest MSL(rather wide rangeoflocations, butonce againitis account lists13pressure readings madeata Ick’s this timewasprobably 948–949mbar). andthusthetrueMSLpressure at 4.5mbar, a barometric correction to MSLofapprox above MSL,whichwould require about 37m Castle stood atMarkree observatory (The Co.at Markree, Sligo, Ireland. innorth-west mbar at 0630hthebarometer stood at944 mbar. wasprobably filling, It for below 950 Scotland, withMSLpressure probably alittle Uplandsof located intheSouthern at noonthecentre ofthedepression was that and timesofminimawe canascertain minima in error andplottingtheobserved Ignoring thevaluesobviouslyInstitution. William IckoftheBirminghamPhilosophical accountof who reprinted thecontemporary tively) to MSL,are given inSymons (1892) pressure values, reduced (largely retrospec- Anumberof atabout30knots. north-east January, 1843,travelling towards theeast- ofFriday,late afternoon morning/early 13th Ireland andsouthernScotland duringthe of deepdepression crossedA very thenorth 1843 13 January the BritishIsles. lowest barometric pressure yet recorded in 1839:thisisthethird- 14h on7January reading is931mbaratSumburgh Headat lowest MSL-corrected known barometer andeventuallySea into theBaltic. The Shetland before moving outinto theNorth and passedbetween Orkney 1991). It Scotland (Lamb greatest depthoffnorthern slowing considerably asitneared its Hebrides (Met Office, 1973). Hebrides (Met Lighthouse,Monach west oftheOuter once againat pressure was 939.7mbar ( The minimumatStornoway was943.4mbar morning. by 08hnext slowly to 953.6mbar recovering only at18h, just 946.2mbar on11November but at08h at 968.5mbar winds. At Stornoway thebarometer stood widespread severe galesorstorm-force Scotland andbringing close to north-west deepdepressions passing series ofvery ning ofNovember 1877culminated ina An unsettledspellofweather atthebegin- 11 November 1877 weather 1884 (thebaro- inmid-January A protracted spellofmild, quietsettled 1884 26 January to to stated thatthereadings hadbeencorrected merely the ‘lowest observed’, althoughitis andwhichwere any) were true ‘minima’ (1866): hedidnotstate, however, which(if given by Cunningham of ‘lowest readings’ only record we have ofthestorm isthetable the was notissuedatthattime)virtually occurred onaSunday (for whichthe spread . Since thestorm wards, severe giving avery galeandwide- Hebridesmoving north-east- the northern December anintense system passedacross hoursof31 1865). Duringtheearly duringtheday (Symons, 1007 to 977mbar in Ireland thepressure onthe28thfell from onthe29th. At Monkstown at21h 968mbar on28ththenfell to rose to 1003mbar onthe27th, at03h pressure was969mbar the 27thonwards. At Aberdeen theMSL from districts depressions crossing northern late inthemonth,withanumberofdeep 15th –gave unsettledfew way to days avery this storm. more detailedsynopticreconstruction of information tosufficient extant attempt a Usinish), Uist.However, South there isin- atUshenish (now Uist,and948.2mbar North Lighthouse,Monach off thewest coast of would to bethe945.5mbarat appear Lewis value. The lowest credible MSLvalues although heappeared to accept theButtof also disbelieved by Symons (1884), neighbours. The Hoy Lowlight reading was Lighthouse isalsomuchlower thanits attheButtofLewis reading of 937.7mbar Ronaldsay),instance, andthe 949.2atNorth readings onotherislandsinthegroup (for muchtooappears low incomparison with atHoy Lowlight inOrkney 935.7mbar maximum depthattained. The valueof exists to permitaneducated guessatthe but asufficientdegree ofcorroboration inerrorvalues clearly – –inbothdirections shows Scotland anumberof of north-west Daily WeatherDaily Report MSL . Plottingthesevaluesgiven onamap ); thelowest observed DWR lowest pressures recorded for inScotland at sources agreeporary thatthesewere the (Buchan 1884,Symons 1884).Contem- inEdinburgh Glasgow and929.6mbar at 928.8mbar atOban2100h, 927.5mbar at Culloden, nearInverness, at2300h, 927.4mbar atDundee2230h, 927.3mbar atAberdeen at2330h, 927.2mbar afforded by the(MSL)readings of in theBritishIsles. Corroborative evidence is lenged MSLpressure reading yet recorded remains thelowest unchal- 925.6mbar, tions from 1873to about1915. This value, observa- making Meteorological Society stationoftheScottish was asecond-order Capt. C.M.Dundas,AMSL –observer RN) W, 101m 3°53’ (56°23’N, but Ochtertyre note in (Buchan1884).Buchan’sPerthshire at2145h nearCrieff, atOchtertyre, 925.6mbar* The lowest927mbar. pressure was reported midnight thecentre lay nearAberdeen, at At a maximumdepthofabout925mbar. andevening,during theafternoon reaching knots and central atabout25 Scotland Ireland across Northern north-eastwards Thereafter itcontinued to deepenandmove with central pressure about945mbar. of thedepression Ireland, lay offnorth-west thecentre At noonon26January 65knots). hours(meanforward speedaround ing 24 ling 1500–1600nauticalmilesinthefollow- morning ofthe25th,system thentravel- onthe central pressure around 1010mbar, frontal wave offNewfoundland, witha can betraced to thedevelopment ofa presented based. here ispartly The storm uponwhichtheanalysis isobaric charts this storm, andpresents three-hourly January. by anexceptionally deepdepression on26 overnight onthe24/25th:thiswasfollowed ofScotland passedto thenorth 960mbar, on the23rd. Anotherdepression, below ofrainfell inthe three days ending 188mm atSeathwaite inCumbria age to property: causing considerable lossoflife anddam- sion moved eastacross southernScotland adeepdepres-same course. On23January the nearly third onthe21st,pursuingvery followed by anotheronthe20th,andby a reached 80knots. This depression was meanwinds Islandshourly the Orkney infour in hoursatStornoway: of 32.5mbar Scotland on19/20th,causingapressure fall depression of passedover thenorth experienced inBritain.Arapidlymoving the stormiest periodsofweather ever west on15th)gave way on19thto oneof atHaverford- meter reaching 1039.8mbar 925.6 mbar. as 27.332inHg, whichconverts more precisely to whereas Buchangives thelowest value observed mbar(theconversion of27.33inHg) 925.5 * The figure erroneously isoften quoted as Marriott (1884)givesMarriott adetailedaccount of Nature does notquote thesource, The Lowest of the Lows Weather – January 2007, Vol. 62, No. 1 9 ) was MSL ) stated that ) stated op cit © Stephen Burt 2006 . The track of this storm The . DWR An early account of the storm was given of the storm An early account was somewhat to the south of the Januarywas somewhat to baro- new low and as a result 1884 event established were records metric pressure the northwidely across southern of Ireland, lowest The and northernScotland England. 927.2 was the pressure reliable mbar to in Belfast at 1330h referred measured ( Harding however above; he believed the true storm minimum over the true storm he believed the north mbar*. 924 was close to of Ireland Belfast value is supportedThe the obser- by vations of 928.5mbar at Mull of Galloway (1430h), 928.9mbar at Armagh (1230h) and 929.2mbar Sligo (1030h), at Markree, Co. at at 1230h (Lurgan) Aghalee Ryan and at Loch at 1600h. in north-west At Ireland at 08hthe MSL barometer at stood 933.9 fallen 60 having mbar, 18h mbar since with the wind at west- evening, the previous 12 indicating that the Force south-west by Symons (1886) and a more detailed and a more (1886) Symons by synoptic The (1887). Harding discussion by 1886 shown situation at 14h on 8 December account 6 is based upon Harding’s in Figure with observationstogether and maps pub- lished in the reported from Omagh in Co. Tyrone, about 90 Tyrone, Omagh in Co. reported from km 1886). of Belfast, at 13h (Buchanan west “undoubtedly that (1887, p 211) stated Harding the position of that station was in the direct track and at the time when the depres- of the centre, sion was at its deepest” but that the graduation were concerned and calibration of the barometer the quote “to satisfactorynot considered enough as trustworthy”. reading * A reading of 922.5 mbar (corrected to to of 922.5 mbar (corrected * A reading at 18hat 26 January 1884 Figure 5. Synoptic situation at 18h situation 5. Synoptic Figure on 26 January 1884. See text for sources , which is annotated ‘telegraphic com- ‘telegraphic , which is annotated hourly wind speed reached 66hourly wind speed reached knots at in NorthumberlandAlnwick and 61 knots at at Kew a mean of 46 knotsHolyhead; even was There during the evening. was reached disruption of serviceswidespread – very few observations day’s appear in the following DWR munication interrupted’. 8 December1886 Another very disturbed spell in December depres- of intense a succession 1886 saw A depression north-westsions cross Europe. of marked thermal con- in an area forming merged on 7 December trast in mid-Atlantic near that had formed with a depression and the combined Iceland, south-west a single form deepened rapidly to storm close to pressure with a central system 930mbar off north-west Ireland on the The 1991). (Lamb, morning of 8 December as it slow deepen and to to continued storm northerncrossed the barometer Ireland, 927.2mbarfalling to at Belfast at 1330h as the At passed nearby. centre the depression 18h at around peak of the storm, on 8 gale force the wind exceeded December, southern between coasts on all windward Norway and northern Spain. At and western the mean wind in Lancashire Fleetwood 30 above speed remained mph (26kn) 65 for the highest hourly mean hours, consecutive 69reaching knots; near the peak of the Southport from the lifeboats storm, and St both lost, and 27 of the 29 crew were Anne’s members perished. , in DWR following Quarterly Journal “In connection with the thermometer readings, it may be mentioned it may “In connectionreadings, with the thermometer that at 13h a Tying Mr get at the screen. to Omond made an attempt an assistant with- which was held by his waist, the end of round rope of the the shelter Mr out from cautiously in the porch, Omond crept Observatory; of the gale that he could was the violence but so great 19 h another At return. to against it, and was glad make no headway it observers but found The as far as the screen, got was made. attempt the blinding drift to lash- owing the thermometers read impossible to Mr go out Omond to calm enough for 22 h it was At ing in their faces. of 22.8°F and the reading alone, [–5.1°C] was obtained.” The JanuaryThe Ben on 1884 storm Nevis A violent gale was experienced in all areas in A violent gale was experienced The 1884 accounts of Marriott and 1884 accounts The The Ben Nevis Summit Observatory Ben Nevis The operation 1983, 2004) was in (Roy of be observed may weather of the there and features storm, during this The Marriott (1884). been taken from has account – this interest 1343m, – at station level, temperature for – corrected observed pressure 813.8mbar from fell 784.7mbar at noon to point at 2030, the lowest on the scale point the lowest above was only 6 mbar This reached. the had been especially constructedalthough the instrument for pres- 790.0mbar.Observatory. sea-level By midnight it had risen to The only 7kmWilliam, at Fort was 930.1mbarsure away, noon on At at 2030. was –9.2°C: the temperature the summit of Ben Nevis no but thereafter observationsoutdoor until 22h possible were the fury to owing of the south-east, noon the wind was At 60 knots:gale. during the afternoon it 19h 80 knots. At above to increased it was south-east 65knots, at 20 h south-east 55knots, but at 21h passed must have calm: the depression very 22h the observatory. close to At it was east-north-easterly, 27 knots. the Marriott gives all day. noted drifting were and severe fog Snow, observatory: in the day of an eventful description following of Britain, but was most severe in northernof Britain, but was most severe the northEngland, the (where of Ireland and in the damage rivalled 1839 in places) a million over – where south of Scotland alone on one estate down blown were trees 1884, p.15).(Symons, (1902, p. Brodie 150) a short and of the storm, gives account pressure the steepest it as having to refers (15mbargradient per 100km) over found mean The that date. the British Isles to Marriott’s paper, and such information as and such information paper, Marriott’s the (indicating time of thunderstorms 40 values of front): passage of the cold available. were pressure Symons contain descriptions of a line of contain Symons widely accompanied violent thunderstorms, with a violent windshift together , by be now which would jump, and pressure (Indeed, some front. as the cold recognised in the discussion recorded of the comments in the Society’s paper of Mrthe presentation Marriott’s the Bjerknes ideas predate frontal seem to chartThe 18h for 30 years). by (Figure 5) is in the based on values given least the previous 120 years. The lowest The 120 years. least the previous value in Ireland was 936.6mbarrecorded at the lowest Sligo which remains Markree, Co. January for in Ireland (Rohan, on record 933.1mbar1975): however, was reported about 50km Down Co. Waringstown, from 1884, p.16). of Belfast (Symons south-west Observatory value at Greenwich lowest The was 965.8mbaron this day at 1935h (Marriott, 1884, p.121). 46°N 71°W with central pressure 996 mbar. 8 December 1886 By 0600 GMT on 3rd it lay near 53°N 43°W at 985 mbar and after a further 24 hours it lay at 14h close to western Ireland with a central pres- sure about 944 mbar (Shellard and Douglas 1951). It was then occluded 500 km from its centre and its speed and rate of deepening were rapidly decreasing. Throughout its movement from the Gulf of Mexico to Ireland it was in a very strong thermal field which enabled it to combine rapid move- ment with sustained deepening. The Lowest of the Lows Lowest The By 1200 on 4 February the depression had temporarily developed two centres, one near in the north of Ireland and the other near Cork, with central pressures of 944 and 942 mbar respectively. The depression subsequently filled and drifted north-eastwards. The lowest pressure reported was at Midleton, Co. Cork (about 40 km east of Cork) at 1500 GMT when the barometer stood at 942.3 mbar: this is the lowest on record for February in the British Isles (Met Office, 1973). At Cork the pressure had fallen 62 mbar in 30 hours. The surface synoptic situation at 1800 GMT is shown in

Weather – January 2007, Vol. 62, No. 1 62, No. Vol. – January 2007, Weather Figure 7 (taken from Shellard and Douglas, p. 363). The depression was remarkable for the extent of low barometer readings, but did not produce any exceptional gales. Over © Stephen Burt 2006 the whole of Wales and all parts of England south of 53–54°N the pressure on this date Daily Weather Report Figure 6. Synoptic situation at 14h on 8 December 1886; from observations in and in was the lowest on record over the period Harding (1887). Sites with pressure observations only are shown as small open circles. 1949–88 (see Table 3 and Figure 11): the

depression centre lay to the north. At 20° 10° 0° 10° Stonyhurst in Lancashire, where the baro- meter fell to 940.4 mbar at MSL, the reading was “lower than at any time in the last 40 years” (and it has not been closely approached at any time since). In London the barometer fell to 958.2 mbar at Camden 60° Square at 0445 on 9 December (Symons, 1886, p.157), the lowest in London since 13 60° January 1843. This value was not bettered in London until 25 February 1989 (Burt, 1989).

6 December 1929 On 6 December 1929 a deep low was centred not far off south-west Ireland; at Valentia the barometer stood at 966.9 mbar at 13h, 951.3mbar at 18h and 950mbar at 22h (by 01h 7 December it had risen 22 mbar in 3 hours, to 971.9mbar). This 50° depression achieved a notable depth in 50° mid-Atlantic: on 4 December S.S. Westpool reported 927.9 mbar, although unfortu- nately the location of the observation was not stated in the account (Meteorol. Mag, 68, p. 18).

4 February 1951 10° 0° 10° On 31 January 1951 a depression developed on a very pronounced front in the Gulf of Figure 7. Synoptic situation at 1800 GMT on 4 February 1951, from Shellard and Douglas (1951) Mexico. By 0600 GMT on 2 February it was 10 centred near the north-east at The Lowest of the Lows Weather – January 2007, Vol. 62, No. 1 11 This depression was spawned off the was spawned depression This 20 December 1982 During the early hours of the morning of 20 1982 the passage of an intense December the north across depression the British of read- barometer in the lowest Isles resulted 1886 December ings seen in Britain since 0020 At (see above). the sea-level GMT at 937.6 stood at Stornoway pressure mbar, the pressure from is evidence and there on suppose to that the pressure gradients and at side of the Isle of Lewis the western the island of Sule Skerry off northern as fallen as low have Scotland may 936 was A full description of the event mbar. published shortly afterwards (Burt, 1983). during the morning of 17 Labrador Coast and subsequently deepened December swiftly north-eastwardsrapidly as it moved that had been a in the very jet-stream strong of the upper-air pattern feature persistent the north the throughout over Atlantic autumn. It a maximum depth of reached about 931 1500 mbar around on 19 GMT near 58.5°N,December 15°W and subse- north- as it moved quently filled slowly Orkney the passing between eastwards, and Lerwick At the barometer Shetland Islands. 965 at or below remained 46 con- mbar for 44. for Wick and at hours, secutive 1 December 1966 and rapidly-deepen-A series of fast-moving northern crossed ing depressions Britain 1966. November late during the west from as an open wave formed One depression 1002 mbar at 56° N, 35° W at noon on 30 while then deepened rapidly November quicklymoving be located to eastwards near 57° N, 18° with W just 12 hours later, 955 pressure central It subsequently mbar. east-south-eastwards slowly more moved northernacross and southern Ireland North the central Scotland into Sea by 0600 baro- lowest The 2 December. GMT 942.6 reported were metric pressures mbar (near Derry/Londonderry)at Carrigans and 943.9 Airport at Belfast/Aldergrove mbar (both at 1500 and on 1 December) GMT 944.3 at mbar at the Mull of Galloway 1800 this on pressure barometric The GMT. on post-war lowest the remains occasion Northern for southern Ireland, record all Glen and for south of the Great Scotland of northern England north of a line 8 11). Figure Hull (Figure Manchester to the synoptic situation at 1800shows UTC. occasion was designated one of ‘out- of one was designated occasion interest’standing The the Met Office. by out into subsequently moved depression the north Irish of the Sea pressure (central 947 mbar at 00h then north 5 February) finally becoming Hebrides, the across stationary and Scotland between and filling on 6–7 February. Iceland Table 3 continued on next 3 continued page Table 938.8 03h 20 Dec. 1982938.8 03h 20 Dec. 1 1966949.1 18h 1 Dec. 1 1989952.4 15h 25 Feb. 1 949.5 00h 2 Dec. 1966949.5 00h 2 Dec. 1989 00h 26 Feb. 1 1951953.9 00h 5 Feb. 1 1966947.6 18h 1 Dec. 1966945.2 18h 1 Dec. 1 1 1951952.5 00h 5 Feb. 1 (no data 1/1974–11/1983) 1989 25 Feb. 951.9 18h 1 Malin HeadBelmulletClonesClaremorrisMullingarDublin Airport 5/1955–12/2005 9/1956–12/2005 1966 943.6 13h, 14h 1 Dec. 1950–2005 1951–2005 11/1941–12/2005 17 Jan. 1995 943.2 17h 1950–2005 1951 17,18,19h 4 Feb. 944.1 4 1951 943.9 17h 4 Feb. 1951 943.9 19h 4 Feb. 1951 943.0 17h 4 Feb. 4 4 4 4 4 KinlossAberdeen/DyceEdinburgh/Turnhouse 1957–10/1999 1957–2005 1959–2005 1999 945.6 01h 25 Dec. 1982 944.0 03h 20 Dec. 1 1 AldergroveBallykelly 1949–2005 1957–70, 1995–2005 1966 944.0 15h 1 Dec. 1966 943.9 15h 1 Dec. 1 1 AltnaharraStornoway GogarbankEdinburgh, 10/1997–2005 1957–2005 11/1999–2005 1982 937.6 * 0020h 20 Dec. 1 St AthanPlymouth 2/1998–2005 1949–2005 1989 951.1 16h 25 Feb. 1 Lerwick WrathCape 1957–2005 1957–9/1997 1999 944.4 mbar 07h 25 Dec. 1 AberporthCardiff/Rhoose 1957–1/1998 1957–2005 1989 950.3 05h 17 Dec. 1 CarlisleManchester/Ringway 1949–10/2004 1961–2005 1966 946.5 21h 1 Dec. 1 ColtishallBirmingham/Elmdon 11/1962–2005London/Heathrow 6/1949–3/1999 Kew Observatory ObservatoryGreenwich 1989, 953.9 23h 25 Feb. South Farnborough 1949–2005 1814–1884 1869–1953 1957–2005 1 1989 952.3 18,19h 25 Feb. 1821 948.7 05h 25 Dec. 1886 959.3 05h 9 Dec. 1 3 Ronaldsway 2 1957–2005 1966 946.5 18h 1 Dec. 1 Newcastle W Newcastle CtrAlbemarle 7/2001–9/2005 Marham 10–12/2005 Coleshill 1957–2005 4/1999–2005 1989 954.8 21,22,23h 25 Feb. Benbecula - Renfrew/Glasgow 1 AbbotsinchBishoptonPrestwick RNASPrestwick 1949–4/1966 1957–7/1996 5/1966–4/1999 1982 939.7 23h 19 Dec. 2/1997–2005 5/1999–2005 1957–1/1997 1 Ireland North-east Scotland East and north-east England Region and stationNorthern Scotland Period Value/date Source Wales England and South South-west North-west England and North Wales North-west England and North East Anglia Midlands South-east England Isle of Man Wick 1957–2005 1982 942.6 04–07h 20 Dec. 1 WoodfordValley 11/2004–2005 1957–2005 1989 947.4 07h 17 Dec. 1 Waddington 8/1950–2005 1989 956.7 17h 25 Feb. 1 Tynemouth 1957–6/2001 Tiree 1957–2005 1988 944.7 13h 9 Feb. 1 Western Scotland Western Lowest barometric pressure on record at a number of long-period hourly observing hourly at a number of long-period sites in the UK and on record pressure barometric Lowest Table 3 Table Ireland (typically 40 years or more of computerised hourly or three-hourly observations available in the UK hourly or three-hourly observations available of computerised or more 40 years (typically Ireland the lowest together, bracketed stations are two or more where Met Office data archives; Met Éireann and between occurred may have values been used). Slightly lower has record the combined from value observations. All times quoted are GMT. All times quoted are observations. 12 Weather – January 2007, Vol. 62, No. 1 The Lowest of the Lows observations. Alltimesquotedare GMT. value from thecombined record hasbeenused).Slightlylower values mayhave occurred between andMetÉireann dataarchives;Met Office where ormore two stationsare bracketed together, thelowest Ireland (typically 40years ormore of computerised available observations hourlyorthree-hourly intheUK Table 3continued Lowest barometric pressure onrecord sitesintheUKand atanumberoflong-period hourlyobserving aetaOsraoy1/991/059281h4Fb 914 942.812h4Feb. 1951 10/1939–12/2005 Valentia Observatory einadsainPro au/aeSource Ocean WeatherShips Channel Islands Value/date Period Ireland Region andstation OWS ‘M’ OWS ‘K’ esy16–0593812had12h 6 1 953.81320hand1920h 4 4 4 4 1862–2005 952.511h 25Feb. 1989 4 942.800h17Dec. 1989 OWS ‘J’ OWS ‘I’ 4 OWS ‘E’ 946.104h17Dec. 1989 OWS ‘D’ 1960–2005 944.803h 17 Dec. 1989 943.2 00h17Dec. 1989 OWS ‘C’ 1962–2005 4 12/1956–12/2005 OWS ‘A’ 944.902h17Dec. 1989 12/1955–12/2005 6/1957–12/2005 10/1954–12/2005 Jersey 942.814h4Feb. 1951 Airport 945.6 04h17Dec. 1989 9/1945–12/2005 Cork Airport Roches Point Rosslare 1964–2005 Birr 7. UK Met Office, SpecialInvestigations UKMet Branch 7. 2006 ofFrank Courtesy January leBlancq, Department, JerseyMet 6. 5. Rohan (1975) 2006 ofClimatological Éireann, Courtesy Division,Met January 4. 3. Marriott (1884) Shellard andDouglas(1951) 2. NationalClimate datasets:courtesy observational andthree-hourly hourly Office UKMet 1. SOURCES Stornoway’s minimumisfrom thebarograph record: hourwas thelowest atanobservation * NOTES for OWSdataindicates thesamevalueoccurred(+) atoneormore successive hours Information Centre mbarat01h 938.2 continued Figure 8.Synoptic situation at1800 59°N, 19°W 35°N, 48°W 62°N, 33°W 52.5°N, 20°W 45°N, 16°W 66°N, 2°E 52.75° N,35.5°W 44°N, 41°W 917 6. 1 o.16 7 7 967.521h9Nov. 1963 949.516h17Nov. 1963 1961–70 1961–70 917 4. 9 8Fb 977 948.509h28Feb. 1967 1961–70 917 3. 1 6Jn 92()7 7 7 7 931.101h16Jan.1962(+) 956.018h28Feb. 1963 23Feb. 1964 956.709h 1968 21Sept. 945.815h 1961–70 1961–70 1961–70 1961–70 917 7. 3 a.16 + 7 978.003h6Jan.1963(+) 1961–70 1 December 1966 GMT 1800h of on 1December 1966, from 25 Feb. 1989 Daily WeatherReport Figure 9(Figure 1983). 3ofBurt, synoptic situationatmidnightisshown in in weather-related accidents. The surface Britain, andthere were atleastninefatalities siderable disruptionover of many parts Estuary and filled to 953mbar. andfilled to 953mbar. Estuary midnight ithadmoved outinto the Thames whileby inland inEastSussexat952mbar, during theevening. At 2100thecentre lay the southcoast before turningnorth-east began to fillslowly, along further drifting After thisthedepression W). 2°27’ (50° 34’N, Portland Royal Naval AirStationinDorset at reported south Dorset,with948.8mbar GMT itwascentred over slowly. At 1500 and alongthesouthcoast, deepening ing. The centre thentrackedacross Devon cross southernCornwall duringthemorn- toat 0600)andthenmoved east-south-east mbarwell southofCork and deepening(956 continued movingof Ireland. eastwards It mbarto thesouth-west closed isobarof968 was evidentasaratherslacksystem witha Bymidnight it 18°W. February around 49°N, GMT on24 the polarfront about1800 pressures developed initiallyasawave on sion ultimately responsible for thelowest pressure fielditselfwasslack. The depres- the wholeofBritishIsles, althoughthe of Scotland maintainedlow pressure over system toaround thenorth adeepprimary depressions circulatingIsles. Secondary allowing frontal systems to cross theBritish away drifted as thedominantanticyclone low. The blockwasbroken inmid-February high andadeeper-than-normalIcelandic been maintainedbetween theEuropean Atlantic avigorous south-westerly flow had central Europe. thenorth-eastern Over frequentlyintense anticyclone located over strongly over anticyclonic Englandwithan ceding four months, whichwere very ofthepre- atypical British Isleswasvery however, thesynopticevolution over the depressions onsimilartracks. thiscase, In with asuccession ofincreasingly deep usually preceded by alongunsettledspell, low barometricvery pressure events are (Table 3). island since records commenced in1862 mbar thelowest valuerecorded onthe mbar–by more than4 was953.8 reported On Jerseythelowest sealevel pressure lowest 1989). since December 1821(Burt, mbarduringtheevening –the fell to 952 Portland inDorset;London thepressure mbarat pressurereported was948.8 mbar. and The lowestWales fell below 950 pressure over thesouthernhalfofEngland covered theBritishIsles, thebarometric large andcomplex area oflow pressure of25FebruaryOn theafternoon 1989,asa 25 February 1989 Severe galesandfloodingcausedcon- As isevidentfrom otheraccounts above, The Lowest of the Lows Weather – January 2007, Vol. 62, No. 1 13 GMT at 1500 at 25 February 1989 25 February Within the last 200 years or so, a barometric or so, the last 200 years Within of 950 mbar or less at MSL has been pressure stations at one or more recorded reliably within the British Isles on at least 30 occa- has the barom- of these On only three sions. 935 fallen to eter and at the mbar or lower, of occasion time of writing the most recent The ago. value was 120 years such a low Extremes of pressure at at Extremes of pressure long-period stations at observed pressure barometric lowest The a selection of long-period observing sites (most of them hourly synoptic stations) in 3. In most Table in given the British Isles are from been derived have cases the records Figure records. the period of computerised observed MSL pressure the lowest 11 shows 1949 to- observed approximately since value the lowest gether with the date 3). Table in (based on the records occurred Summary similar tracks; in others, two already intense already two similar tracks; in others, and a larger form to combined systems the cases, In storm. a few intense more and veryestablishment of a large deep the British over area pressure low complex very barometric low Isles produced usual accom- without the more pressures gales. paniment of severe Figure 10. Synoptic situation at 1500 GMT on 25 February 1989 – from Burt 1989 – from at 1500 GMT on 25 February situation 10. Synoptic Figure (1989) occasion. Severe gales and heavy rainfall Severe occasion. as it crossed the depression accompanied the British Isles. Common features of notable features Common storms a share Most notably deep depressions namely the generation of a history, common and of a series of fast-moving succession a rapidly deepening cyclonic from storms In polar front. several intensified greatly was preceded the deepest depression cases, and fast-moving a series of intense by rapidly deepening cyclonic along storms 17 January 1995 became estab- zone baroclinic A strong and central the western lished across 13 January around Atlantic 1995 and result- intense of fast-moving, ed in a succession on the An open wave cyclonic systems. at 994polar front 50°N, mbar around 37°W at 1200 on 16 January deepened explo- UTC very rapidly eastwards as it moved sively and then north-eastwards, passing close to At on 17 January. of Ireland coast the west Belmullet in north-west the barome- Ireland 943.2 to fell ter mbar at 17 on a h, the lowest at this site spanning 50 years now record gales resulted severe Widespread 3). (Table storm. and fast-moving this intense from GMT Figure 9. Synoptic situation at 0000 GMT on 20 December 1982 – at 0000 GMT on 20 December situation 9. Synoptic Figure Burtfrom (1983) 20 December 1982 at 00 1982 at 20 December The synoptic situation over the British over synoptic situation The 17 December 1989 in mid- A very thermal gradient strong 1989 spawned in mid-December Atlantic one of which depressions, intense several 950 mbar near below had deepened to 47°N, 19°W 0000 by on 16 December. GMT as it sub- develop to continued system The quicklysequently moved north-eastwards, Ireland and Scotland during crossing Airport Cork At the barometer 17 December. at 942.8stood mbar at 0000 on 17 GMT than 40 years in more its lowest December, were records 3). New site (Table on record established at six other long-period Irish although stations open stations on this date, recorded 1951 event during the February on that pressures barometric slightly lower Isles at 1500GMT was (when the depression 10 in Figure at about its deepest) is shown track The 2 of Burt, 1989). Figure (taken from inset. On this is shown of the depression was exceptionally the barometer occasion in for the whole of the British Isles, over low southern over the main low addition to at 1500England, was another of there GMT 949mbar and another Scotland off eastern of 955mbarThe Scotland. off western station in the United at any highest pressure Kingdom at this time was 960.4mbar at Lerwick. 14 Weather – January 2007, Vol. 62, No. 1 The Lowest of the Lows the date oftheevent since 1949(smootheddistribution) together with Figure 11.Lowest MSLpressure observed observed and the UK Met Office’sand theUKMet NationalClimate the synopticsites usedin inIreland Table 3, Éireann provided at thelong-periodextremes the Climatological DivisionofMet Brooks from Niall extremes: to theIrish cularly provided helpfulcomments relating parti- from theUniversity ofFribourg inSwitzerland for the December 1821storm: EddieGraham chart Howard’s published ‘clock-barometer’ my attention to andprovided acopy ofLuke on related topics): Howard drew Oliver kindly generated several usefulrelated discussions barometric pressure onrecord inJersey(and provided of theextremes Department Met tion. Frank Le Blancq from theStates ofJersey orreferencesobservations for thiscompila- obscure down sometimesvery tracking organisations whohave beenmosthelpfulin grateful to anumberofpeopleand I amvery acknowledgements Data sources and which may have beenoverlooked. mbarintheBritishIsles pressures below 945 examples ofotheroccasions ofbarometric December 1821. onthemorningof25 been 946mbar inalmost250years ofrecordsobserved has London,December 1982.In the lowest mbaratStornoway on20 Isles hasbeen937.6 the lowest recorded pressure intheBritish Ireland. northern Within thepast100years, mbarover may have fallenaslow as924 morning of8December 1886,thebarometer mbar was measured. Onthe when 925.6 near Crieff, 1884, on26January inScotland within theBritishIslesoccurred atOchtertyre, lowest MSLbarometric pressure recorded The authorwould welcome documented © Stephen Burt 2006 © StephenBurt Exeter andinEdinburgh. archivestional material from Office theMet in numerous enthusiastic assistance inobtainingcopies of for Kidds hisunfailing to Martin in particular Exeter many for ofthereferences, unearthing in to theNationalMeteorological Library you’ content in Table 3.Ioffer aparticular ‘thank Information Centre provided muchoftheUK References Meteorol. Mag. barometric pressures atmeansealevel. Anon. contribution to meteorology. Blench B. Brandes HW. 83–93. Symons’s MonthlyMeteorol. Mag depression ofDecember 8th–9th[1886]. Buchanan LM. 1884. London, 31January Buchan A. Soc. the 30years 1871–1900. on thecoasts oftheBritishIslesduring Brodie FJ. 1999. Monmonier in atmosphericpressure Latin: atmospherae observatis repentinis variationibus inpressione pressure extreme. 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