First, let me give some background information on hurricane Gert. Gert was a category 2 hurricane that brought heavy surf and rip currents to the eastern coasts of the US. It originated from a tropical wave off the coast of Africa on August 3rd 2017 but did not become a tropical depression until August 12th near the Bahamas. It became the seventh tropical storm of the 2017 hurricane season and was named Gert a few hours later on the 12th. Dry air hindered intensification of Gert until the 14th when the storm resumed strengthening whilst moving northwards. The storm reached its peak intensity on the 16th and became a category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale. Thereafter, increasing vertical wind shear and cooler sea surface temperatures caused the hurricane to weaken and transition into an extratropical cyclone on the 17th. The remnants of Gert dissipated late on the 18th as they merged with another extratropical cyclone over the Atlantic. This would later bring heavy rainfalls and strong winds to both the UK and Ireland.
Met Éireann issued yellow status warnings for the entire of Ireland expecting heavy showers and localised flooding. Severe floods occurred in Northern Ireland with floodwaters reaching 1.5m. More than 100 people were rescued after being trapped in their cars or houses overnight.
Some rainfall totals from 21st August 2017.
Some rainfall totals from 22nd August 2017.
*This recording from Carndonagh was from 09:00 on the 22nd to 09:00 on the 23rd.
According to Gerald Fleming, around 63mm of Malin Head's total there fell in the space of 6 hours and 32mm of it in two hours between 19:00 to 21:00 on the 22nd. It was one of the wettest days on record at Malin Head.
Dundee Satellite showing the heavy thundery showers (very thick cloud) of the British Isles on 22nd August 2017.
Northern Ireland flood on 23rd August 2017.
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