A trip to Achill Island in 2019 coincided with the arrival of a dissipating hurricane on October 2nd. According to EUMETSAT, Hurricane Lorenzo “was the strongest hurricane on record to go so far north and east in the Atlantic Ocean”. Couldn’t have put it simpler myself.

By the time, the leftovers of the hurricane had reached Ireland, it’s category 5 status was no longer valid. However, it still brought fierce winds, and the few times I went outside, I could lean substantially against the winds.

The hurricane caused deaths across the north and east Atlantic, most notably with the ship Bourbon Rhode on the 26th of September. You can view its last approximate position at Marinetraffic.com where it in 2025 still states: “Offshore Supply Ship BOURBON RHODE is currently located in the West Africa“. Of the ship’s 14 crewmembers tragically only 3 survived and were rescued.

References:

1. https://user.eumetsat.int/resources/case-studies/record-breaking-hurricane-lorenzo

2. Zelinsky, D. A. 2019. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT: HURRICANE LORENZO (AL132019). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. National Weather Service.

3. Administration of Technical Investigations. 2021. INTERIM REPORT: Sinking of the vessel Bourbon Rhode on 26 September 2019. Ministry of Mobility and Public Works Department of mobility and transports. Report N° AET/TM-2021/01.