Storm Ciara wreaks havoc across northwestern Europe
By
Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist &
Maura Kelly, AccuWeather meteorologist
Updated Aug 7, 2020 1:26 PM EST
Cars struggled to move after a water main pipe burst, causing a road to be buried under feet of water in Peterborough, United Kingdom, on Feb. 3.
Travel cancellations, power cuts and areas of flooding from Storm Ciara are wreaking havoc across northwestern Europe as Storm Ciara sweeps through the region on Sunday.
The name Ciara was given to the storm on Wednesday by the UK Met Office. In Germany the storm is know as Sabine.
A lifeboat passes white cliffs, as Storm Ciara hits Newhaven, on the south coast of England, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. Trains, flights and ferries have been cancelled and weather warnings issued across the United Kingdom and in northern Europe as the storm with winds expected to reach hurricane levels batters the region. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Ciara is the third named windstorm of the season. The United Kingdom's windstorm season begins in September and continues through the end of April.
“This could be the biggest storm of the season,” Grahame Madge a press officer from the Met Office, told the Telegraph on Wednesday.
Winds increased as rain arrived across Northern Ireland, Scotland and Northern England throughout the day on Saturday.
Strong winds and rainy spells spread across all of the United Kingdom on Saturday night as Ciara continued to approach.
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The full force of Ciara was felt on Sunday as powerful winds whipped across the country.
As of Sunday, power companies across the country are reporting tens of thousands of buildings are without power in the U.K. and travel has been disrupted across northwestern Europe.
Hundreds of flights traveling to and departing from the London Heathrow Airport were canceled, while a flight from Geneva, Switzerland, had to be rerouted to Lyon, France, after numerous failed attempts to land at the London Gatwick Airport.
However, a flight from JFK International Airport in New York crossed the Atlantic to Heathrow Airport in London in record time, fast-tracked through the storm.
Flight operations have been suspended in other airports across the region due to dangerous weather conditions.
Long-distance train service has been suspended in Germany and France where there have been reports of trees falling on train lines.
Widespread wind gusts of 50-60 mph (80-96 km/h) were reported on Sunday with some coastal areas and communities in higher elevations recorded wind gusts of 80-100 mph (129-160 km/h).
The Cairngorm Mountains reported the highest wind gust so far at 118 mph (190 km/h).
These strongest wind gusts will be capable of damaging structures, knocking over signs and trees as well as tossing around trampolines wheelie bins alike.
Some news outlets are reporting a death due to the strong winds in the Netherlands.
Local flooding will also be a concern as Ciara sweeps through the U.K. Locations from Wales into Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are reporting 25-50 mm (1-2 inches) rainfall totals.
A band of heavier rain dumped over 100 mm (4 inches) of rain in northern Wales and Northern England.
Following Ciara, blustery and cold weather will continue through early week with showers and hill snow expected.
The stormy pattern will continue during the second half of next week when another potential windstorm may arrive.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Severe Weather
Storm Ciara wreaks havoc across northwestern Europe
By Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist & Maura Kelly, AccuWeather meteorologist
Updated Aug 7, 2020 1:26 PM EST
Cars struggled to move after a water main pipe burst, causing a road to be buried under feet of water in Peterborough, United Kingdom, on Feb. 3.
Travel cancellations, power cuts and areas of flooding from Storm Ciara are wreaking havoc across northwestern Europe as Storm Ciara sweeps through the region on Sunday.
The name Ciara was given to the storm on Wednesday by the UK Met Office. In Germany the storm is know as Sabine.
A lifeboat passes white cliffs, as Storm Ciara hits Newhaven, on the south coast of England, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2020. Trains, flights and ferries have been cancelled and weather warnings issued across the United Kingdom and in northern Europe as the storm with winds expected to reach hurricane levels batters the region. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Ciara is the third named windstorm of the season. The United Kingdom's windstorm season begins in September and continues through the end of April.
“This could be the biggest storm of the season,” Grahame Madge a press officer from the Met Office, told the Telegraph on Wednesday.
Winds increased as rain arrived across Northern Ireland, Scotland and Northern England throughout the day on Saturday.
Strong winds and rainy spells spread across all of the United Kingdom on Saturday night as Ciara continued to approach.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
The full force of Ciara was felt on Sunday as powerful winds whipped across the country.
As of Sunday, power companies across the country are reporting tens of thousands of buildings are without power in the U.K. and travel has been disrupted across northwestern Europe.
Hundreds of flights traveling to and departing from the London Heathrow Airport were canceled, while a flight from Geneva, Switzerland, had to be rerouted to Lyon, France, after numerous failed attempts to land at the London Gatwick Airport.
However, a flight from JFK International Airport in New York crossed the Atlantic to Heathrow Airport in London in record time, fast-tracked through the storm.
Flight operations have been suspended in other airports across the region due to dangerous weather conditions.
Long-distance train service has been suspended in Germany and France where there have been reports of trees falling on train lines.
Widespread wind gusts of 50-60 mph (80-96 km/h) were reported on Sunday with some coastal areas and communities in higher elevations recorded wind gusts of 80-100 mph (129-160 km/h).
The Cairngorm Mountains reported the highest wind gust so far at 118 mph (190 km/h).
Related:
These strongest wind gusts will be capable of damaging structures, knocking over signs and trees as well as tossing around trampolines wheelie bins alike.
Some news outlets are reporting a death due to the strong winds in the Netherlands.
Local flooding will also be a concern as Ciara sweeps through the U.K. Locations from Wales into Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland are reporting 25-50 mm (1-2 inches) rainfall totals.
A band of heavier rain dumped over 100 mm (4 inches) of rain in northern Wales and Northern England.
Following Ciara, blustery and cold weather will continue through early week with showers and hill snow expected.
The stormy pattern will continue during the second half of next week when another potential windstorm may arrive.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo