Unexpected Meteorological Extremes: The Limerick Tornado of 1851

Abstract

An analysis of contemporary documentary sources and meteorological observations show that a T4 tornado event occurred in Limerick during October 1851 ahead of a cold front in unstable air. The path of the tornado through the city is reconstructed and its impacts are described. Although the scientific community in Ireland was engaged during 1851 in a nation-wide experiment to define the monthly and seasonal patterns of weather, it saw no significance in this event beyond its curiosity value. In the search for order, regularity and scientific laws, extreme meteorological conditions appear to have sustained little scientific interest.

Keywords:

• tornado
• Limerick
• historical climatology