Storm Fabien poised to bring damaging wind to western Europe this weekend

A strengthening storm, given the name Fabien by Meteo France, will bring downpours and strong winds to parts of western Europe this weekend.

Locations from France to northern Spain, the Balearic Islands and Corsica are on alert for locally damaging winds and outbreaks of rain.

Ireland and the United Kingdom are expected to avoid the strongest winds with this storm with gusty winds being confined to far southern parts of both countries.

Northern and western France as well as parts of northern Spain will bear the brunt of the storm's strongest winds with frequent wind gusts of 50-60 mph (80-95 km/h) during the worst of the storm into Sunday morning.

An AccuWeather Local StormMax™ wind gust of 70 mph (115 km/h) is possible. This will be most likely along the central and southern coast of western France. Communities in and around La Rochelle, Royan and Bordeaux are expected to see the strongest wind from the storm.

Corsica and northern Sardinia into western Italy will also be at risk for wind gusts of 50-60 mph (80-95 km/h) from Saturday night into Sunday as the storm races across southern Europe.

These winds will be capable of causing significant travel disruptions and local power cuts.

Wind gusts of 30-40 mph (50-65 km/h) may affect eastern France to northern Italy from Saturday night into Sunday.

Similar winds are expected to blow across the remainder of Spain and northern Portugal as well as the Balearic Islands.

Rainfall from Fabien will also bring the risk for travel disruptions and may produce some flooding problems.

A soaking rain spread across parts of Ireland, Wales and southern England during the day on Saturday before tapering off from west to east on Saturday night.

The exact track of the storm will determine how far northward steady rainfall advances.

Current forecasts indicate areas from Dublin to Manchester and Leeds will avoid any steady rainfall with just a few showers this weekend. Steady rainfall will be limited to the southern coast of Ireland and far southern Wales and England.

Farther south, rain overspread western and central France on Saturday afternoon and will expand into Belgium, Netherlands and western Germany Saturday night and Sunday.

Rain also fall across northern Portugal and Spain on Saturday before sweeping into Corsica, Sardinia and Italy on Saturday night and Sunday.

While rainfall is expected to cause travel disruptions across a large portion of western Europe, the fast movement of the storm will help to limit flooding to just isolated areas.

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