Fierce windstorm to affect millions across western Europe
By
Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Dec 9, 2019 7:26 PM EDT
A large and powerful storm, currently over the open northern Atlantic, will bring impacts to much of western and central Europe into Friday. The storm will shift into the southern Balkan Peninsula on Saturday.
Ireland and the United Kingdom already began to feel the storm's strength as wind and rain increased on Thursday morning. Culdrose, England in the far southwestern part of the country, had wind gusts of around 46 mph (74 mph) around midday Thursday.
The strongest winds are forecast across southern Ireland, western Wales and far southern England, where gusts of 50-60 mph (80-97 km/h) are possible along with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ wind gust of 70 mph (113 km/h).
Winds were strongest late Thursday afternoon and into Thursday evening.
These winds can result in significant travel disruptions and local power cuts into Friday.
In addition to the powerful winds, the storm brought a period of locally heavy rainfall that tracked west to east across the region Thursday morning into Thursday afternoon.
Forecasters say widespread flooding is not expected to be a significant problem, but localized flooding and travel disruptions will be possible during the heaviest periods of rain.
The adverse weather may affect voter turnout for Thursday's snap election in the United Kingdom.
Powerful winds and downpours then swept into northern and western France Thursday afternoon.
These fierce winds and locally heavy rainfall will advance across the remainder of France and into Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark and Germany, Thursday night and Friday.
Western and southern France will endure the worst wind. Widespread wind gusts of 50-60 mph (80-97 km/h) and an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ wind gust of 90 mph (145 km/h) will be possible. Significant travel disruptions and lengthy power cuts can also occur.
Wind gusts of 40-50 mph (65-80 km/h) will be common from northern France and Germany to Italy through Thursday night and Friday, and could cause localized travel disruptions and power outages.
Similar winds will be possible from northeast Spain, eastward into Italy and the western Balkan Peninsula.
Spain will experience the strongest winds from late Thursday into Friday. Areas from Italy into the western Balkans can expect the worst conditions from the storm to unfold Friday afternoon into Friday night.
The worst of the storm's impacts will shift into the southern Balkans on Saturday with the heaviest rainfall and strongest winds expected across Greece.
Elsewhere, gusty winds will continue across much of western and central Europe on Saturday, but forecasters say by that point the winds won't be potent enough to cause major damage or long-lasting travel disruptions.
In addition to the windy conditions, rain and snow will also cause delays in travel.
For most of western Europe, there will be showery periods of rain, but the heaviest rain will likely center on northwest Spain, southwest France and the Balkan coastline.
"Rain amounts of 25-75 mm (1-3 inches) are expected in this region, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 200 mm (8 inches), likely in southwestern France," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
Rainfall of this amount will be capable of producing flooding on roadways, and especially low-lying and poor drainage areas.
In addition to rainfall, snow will also be a concern for some.
Enough cold air will be present for periods of heavy snow in the Alps of eastern France, Switzerland and western Austria. In the highest elevations, a couple of feet of snow is possible.
"Across parts of southern and central Germany, precipitation that begins as rain will change over to snow Thursday night and linger into early Friday," added Roys.
Just enough snow is forecast that icy spots on roads and sidewalks will be a concern.
Temperatures are expected to rise far enough above freezing to change precipitation back over to rain by Friday afternoon.
The stormy pattern looks to continue into next week. Another storm or two will target the British Isles, and could send more wet weather into the remainder of western Europe as well.
Report a Typo
News / Severe Weather
Fierce windstorm to affect millions across western Europe
By Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Published Dec 9, 2019 7:26 PM EDT
A large and powerful storm, currently over the open northern Atlantic, will bring impacts to much of western and central Europe into Friday. The storm will shift into the southern Balkan Peninsula on Saturday.
Ireland and the United Kingdom already began to feel the storm's strength as wind and rain increased on Thursday morning. Culdrose, England in the far southwestern part of the country, had wind gusts of around 46 mph (74 mph) around midday Thursday.
The strongest winds are forecast across southern Ireland, western Wales and far southern England, where gusts of 50-60 mph (80-97 km/h) are possible along with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ wind gust of 70 mph (113 km/h).
Winds were strongest late Thursday afternoon and into Thursday evening.
These winds can result in significant travel disruptions and local power cuts into Friday.
In addition to the powerful winds, the storm brought a period of locally heavy rainfall that tracked west to east across the region Thursday morning into Thursday afternoon.
Forecasters say widespread flooding is not expected to be a significant problem, but localized flooding and travel disruptions will be possible during the heaviest periods of rain.
The adverse weather may affect voter turnout for Thursday's snap election in the United Kingdom.
Powerful winds and downpours then swept into northern and western France Thursday afternoon.
These fierce winds and locally heavy rainfall will advance across the remainder of France and into Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark and Germany, Thursday night and Friday.
Western and southern France will endure the worst wind. Widespread wind gusts of 50-60 mph (80-97 km/h) and an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ wind gust of 90 mph (145 km/h) will be possible. Significant travel disruptions and lengthy power cuts can also occur.
Wind gusts of 40-50 mph (65-80 km/h) will be common from northern France and Germany to Italy through Thursday night and Friday, and could cause localized travel disruptions and power outages.
Similar winds will be possible from northeast Spain, eastward into Italy and the western Balkan Peninsula.
Spain will experience the strongest winds from late Thursday into Friday. Areas from Italy into the western Balkans can expect the worst conditions from the storm to unfold Friday afternoon into Friday night.
The worst of the storm's impacts will shift into the southern Balkans on Saturday with the heaviest rainfall and strongest winds expected across Greece.
Elsewhere, gusty winds will continue across much of western and central Europe on Saturday, but forecasters say by that point the winds won't be potent enough to cause major damage or long-lasting travel disruptions.
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In addition to the windy conditions, rain and snow will also cause delays in travel.
For most of western Europe, there will be showery periods of rain, but the heaviest rain will likely center on northwest Spain, southwest France and the Balkan coastline.
"Rain amounts of 25-75 mm (1-3 inches) are expected in this region, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 200 mm (8 inches), likely in southwestern France," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
Rainfall of this amount will be capable of producing flooding on roadways, and especially low-lying and poor drainage areas.
In addition to rainfall, snow will also be a concern for some.
Enough cold air will be present for periods of heavy snow in the Alps of eastern France, Switzerland and western Austria. In the highest elevations, a couple of feet of snow is possible.
"Across parts of southern and central Germany, precipitation that begins as rain will change over to snow Thursday night and linger into early Friday," added Roys.
Just enough snow is forecast that icy spots on roads and sidewalks will be a concern.
Temperatures are expected to rise far enough above freezing to change precipitation back over to rain by Friday afternoon.
The stormy pattern looks to continue into next week. Another storm or two will target the British Isles, and could send more wet weather into the remainder of western Europe as well.
Report a Typo