Extreme Weather on Islay
Wednesday, January 09 2008This afternoon I wrote about the ferries being cancelled due to the storms that battered Islay yesterday and today. Teresa Morris from Islay Wildscapes who had planned to leave Islay today was one of the people who wasn't able to leave the island by ferry. She sent me an email tonight telling me the weather was horrendous with wind gusts up to 108mph. Today, Teresa made the best of her extra day on islay and travelled around Loch Gorm and Gruinart where she took the following pictures including her comments:
Last nights storm developed during Tuesday evening with winds from the west. In the early morning one was woken to tremendous gusts of wind accompanied by hail, thunder and lightening. The whole house was shuddering and one could feel the tremendous pressure of air on the outside of the cottage. It went on for hours peaking around 3am then slowly dying back after that. It also created an exceptionally high tide. I wonder if there have been any interesting sea birds blown in? Hopefully Jeremy Hasting of Islay Birding may find some.
This picture was taken at Braeside Bruichladdich mid afternoon. You can see the thundery hailstorm clouds sweeping across Loch Indaal and Bowmore.
This is a hailstorm squall passing across Loch Indaal to Black park mid afternoon. Its the same storm as on the previous picture. You can see there is still some snow on the Paps. I wonder what the wind speed was on the Paps last night ! Not a place to be at the height of the storm.
Many thanks Teresa for the superb "Extreme Islay Weather Pictures". This should give the readers an idea of how the weather can be on islay in the wintertime. I can only say: Wish I was there!
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Islay... the gateway to JURA!
From everything Teresa told me and seeing these images I'm now convinced that I will defintely make the trip very soon in the winter. Of course it's nice when the weather is somewhat more friendly but the dramatic scenes we have seen the last days really wet my appetite. If you really like peace and quiet and when you can live with such weather conditions it must be really magic. Let's face it, even in the summer time you don't get guarantees about the weather except for the fact that it's changeable. And when you're into birdwatching and photography like I do, you are in for a treat! There are always people who are looking for these (extreme) conditions. I don't think either that crowds will flock Islay's beaches in the winter but a steady rise in tourism would be extremely good for the island and its people.
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www.islayinfo.com
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Islay... the gateway to JURA!
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www.islayinfo.com
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Islay... the gateway to JURA!
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www.islayinfo.com
I am not brave and not young but I have visited Islay in winter twice and hope to go again in February. If you really love Islay I think there is something special about every month of the year even if it is wet. All you need is to be able to return to a warm place and then nip round the corner to Pt. Charlotte Hotel, sit in front of their log fire, have a blather and a dram!!!!!!!
And Bruce I always visit Jura but am on Ron`s side re Islay. Sorry but it takes all kinds!!! By the way the walk through Jura House gardens in Feb. with its masses of snowdrops has to be seen.
See you both on Islay and Jura or Jura and Islay!!!!!!!! Mags