On this day, 6 November 1996, Ireland recorded its highest ever wind gust for November. A 170 km/h (105 mph) gust was measured at Malin Head on the northern tip of County Donegal.

The extreme wind was linked to a deep low-pressure system that formed off the coast of Newfoundland before rapidly crossing the Atlantic, tracking just north of Ireland and over northern Scotland. The system would undoubtedly have been a named storm were it to occur in 2025.

Earlier that day, Met Éireann had warned that conditions would be “extremely windy” with gusts of up to 70 mph or more. The UK Met Office had also warned of damaging gusts.

The following day brought scattered heavy showers, hail, and sleet on northern hills under a northwesterly airflow.

While The Irish Times did not report the Donegal record, it covered a 95 mph gust in western Scotland and widespread disruption to ferries, rail services, and electricity supplies in England. The gust was notable enough to be mentioned by UK Met Office forecaster Michael Fish on his nightly BBC broadcast.