Storm Dennis to spread damaging winds into north central Europe

The strong wind and rain from Storm Dennis expanded across northern Europe into the beginning of the week, leaving raging floods waters and a rising death toll in the United Kingdom.

While rain spread across France, Belgium and the Netherland earlier on Saturday, the strongest winds arrived on Sunday in these areas.

"Winds increased throughout the day on Sunday across Germany, Denmark and southern Sweden," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Maura Kelly.

Across this vast area, wind gusts reached their peak of 80-96 km/h (50-60 mph) on Sunday and gusts around this speed are expected to continue into Monday, especially along coastal areas.

As of early Monday, winds gusted to 173 km/h (107 mph) in Brocken, Germany, the strongest wind gust outside of the United Kingdom.

Winds of this magnitude disrupted air travel and created difficult conditions for high-profile vehicles driving at high speeds.

Strong winds and heavy rain closed roadways, downed trees and caused power outages from Norway and Denmark into the Baltic region to end the weekend.

Dennis will lose some of it's potency as it moves eastward into the Baltic Sea, but gusty winds are expected across much of the region, and even into far-western Russia into Monday.

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In addition to the gusty winds, rain also followed the core of the storm. As Dennis moves east, the largest rainfall totals are most likely in Denmark, southwestern Norway and southern Sweden.

Widespread rainfall totals reached around 25-50 mm (1-2 inches) from northwestern France and the United Kingdom to Denmark and southwestern Scandinavia.

Higher rainfall amounts are likely along the southwestern coast of Norway as rain continues to fall into the beginning of next week. Accumulating snow is expected in the higher elevations.

Even without centimeters of rain, wind-whipped rain will reduce visibility for motorists. The rain coinciding with gusty winds may also help to topple trees more easily, and lead to power outages.

Multiple weather-related car accidents with injuries were reported as strong winds knocked trees into roadways.

A commuter train in Dortmund, Germany, also crashed into a tree that fell onto the tracks with no injuries reported.

The stormy weather across northern Europe looks as though it will continue through the end of February, with no drastic change in the weather pattern.

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