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Moore, Rory, Murphy, Conor and Fealy, Rowan (2026) Fatal lightning strikes in Ireland from newspaper records 1900–2024. Weather, 99 (9). pp. 1-7. ISSN 0043-1656
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Abstract
This study presents a chronology of fatal lightning strikes in Ireland (1900–2024) derived from digitised newspaper archives. Analysis provides insights into the seasonality, location, victim activity and synoptic conditions (from Lamb weather types) of 94 fatal events causing 113 deaths. Fatalities are most common in summer, especially June and July, during outdoor work or gatherings, and geographically widespread but concentrated in the west and south. Cyclonic weather dominates fatal days (47%). A sharp reduction in fatalities is observed in recent decades, reflecting societal change, improved forecasting and awareness.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | We acknowledge financial support from the Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland via the Co-Centre for Climate + Biodiversity + Water, award number 22/CC/11103. The Co-Centre award is managed by Research Ireland (RI), Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and supported via the UK's International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) and the Irish Government's Shared Island initiative. RM and CM acknowledge funding from the Sunflower Charitable Foundation via the Co-Centre. The authors acknowledge support from Csaba Horvath in producing maps. |
| Keywords: | Fatal lightning strikes; Ireland; newspaper records; 1900–2024; |
| Academic Unit: | Faculty of Social Sciences > Geography Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Institutes > Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units, ICARUS |
| Item ID: | 21610 |
| Identification Number: | 10.1002/wea.70078 |
| Depositing User: | ICARUS Geography |
| Date Deposited: | 20 May 2026 15:10 |
| Journal or Publication Title: | Weather |
| Publisher: | Royal Meteorological Society |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Related URLs: | |
| Use Licence: | This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here |
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