Storm Ciarán

european windstorm in 2023

Storm Ciarán was a powerful windstorm that affected Europe in early November 2023. The Storm was named by the United Kingdom’s Met Office on 29 October 2023.

Storm Ciarán
Highest gust207 km/h (129 mph, 58 m/s) at Pointe du Raz, France on 2 November 2023
Casualties15
Areas affectedIreland, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Benelux, Germany and Italy

The Storm especially affected the Isle of Jersey.[1][2] Where a tornado formed during thunderstorms with hail caused by Storm Ciarán.[3] Also southern England and France were severely affected by the storm, with record winds in France.[4] The storm also caused flooding and huge waves.[5]

In the Netherlands an orange weather warning was given for the coastal provinces for high winds. Events were canceled and there was a lot of disruption due to canceled flights, trains and busses.

There were 15 fatalities as a result of the storm. A 46-year-old woman died in Germany when a tree fell on her.[6] There were 2 deaths in Belgium, a 5-year-old child and a 64-year-old woman.[7] A 23-year-old woman died in Spain.[8] In France two deaths were reported, including a 72-year-old man who was blown off his balcony.[9] And in the Netherlands a person was killed when a tree fell on their car.[10] As of 3 November 2023, seven more died in Italy and one in Albania.[11]

In total there were more than 1 million power outages, in Cornwall around 4.000 properties were left without power.[12]

Highest wind gust per country

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Country Gust Location
  Belgium 105 km/h Zeebrugge
  France 207 km/h Pointe du Raz
  Germany 144 km/h Brocken
  Ireland 145 km/h Hook Lighthouse
  Italy 197 km/h Punta Ala
  Luxembourg 102 km/h Wiltz
  Netherlands 116 km/h IJmuiden
  Spain 140 km/h A Vila de Bares
  United Kingdom 167 km/h St. Clement, Jersey

References

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