Off the Scale' Winds Send Turbine Engine Up in Flames

The U.K. has been experiencing some particularly gusty weather in the last few days. With winds topping out at 165 mph, this wind turbine couldn't take it anymore.

The 100 meter turbine in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, Scotland, burned out its engine due to high winds, according to The Telegraph. It is also reported a second turbine fell completely over. Each turbine cost £2 million ($3.1 million).

The Telegraph has more on the unusual weather:

Jonathan Powell, senior forecaster at Positive weather Solutions, said: “These gusts are really off-the-scale, and surpass hurricane-force. The criteria for what we have seen would fit the weather-bomb scenario.”

Met Office forecaster Helen Chivers, described the phenomenon as “an explosive development where the pressure drops dramatically in a very short time leading to these sorts of conditions”.

The winds have caused schools to shut down and cars are recommended to stay off the road.

Here is a BBC news report showing some of the conditions:

[H/T Gizmodo]