Storm Babet: 'Blind luck that we avoided a worse catastrophe' in Midleton
Co Picture: Midleton, Damien Cork Babet Storm Flooding Rytel In By Caused
The extreme rainfall and resultant flooding which devastated Midleton and surrounding areas during Storm Babet last October was made more than twice as likely due to global warming, a new study has found.
The study, carried out by leading international climate scientists found that, when comparing climate conditions from pre-industrial times to those of today, the chances of such heavy rainfall occurring are now 120% more likely.
The “climate attribution” analysis, the first of its kind in Ireland, began in the wake of Storm Babet last November and examined the impact of climate change on this extreme weather event, which caused widespread damage to people and property. Using new World Weather Attribution (WWA) techniques, the research team were able to establish a correlation between climate change and the heightened intensity of the storm.
The research was led by Dr Ben Clarke from the WWA team from Imperial College London, and involved researchers from the ICARUS Climate Research Centre at Maynooth University and Met Éireann.
According to Dr Ben Clarke, studies of this type are able to determine the role of climate change in extreme weather events like Storm Babet by determining “the changing probability of it occurring and when it does occur, the changing intensity of it”.
In the study, researchers noted that last October’s extreme weather event could have yielded “far more severe consequences” for Midleton and surrounding areas, especially if its aftermath had coincided with high tide rather than low tide.
Indeed, one of the study’s authors, Professor Peter Thorne from the ICARUS Climate Research Centre in Maynooth University, said it was “blind luck that we avoided a worse catastrophe in this case".
The research team say that further research, along with concerted community efforts are required to confront the threats posed by climate change. They also stated policymakers need to take the necessary precautions to safeguard against such extreme weather events.
The details and findings of the study will be broadcast on Prime Time on RTÉ One at 9.35pm on Thursday.
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