A flood threatens: a hurricane hits Western Europe with full force

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The center of Hurricane Ciarán is now over the English Channel. Winds have continued to increase in Brittany, with a peak gust of 207 km/h measured at the Pointe du Raz station, as “Meteo News” reports.

According to the weather service Météo France, there is a risk of flooding from storm waves on the entire French Atlantic coast, the north coast and the eastern Mediterranean coast until the evening. The strongest winds from Hurricane “Emir”, internationally known as “Ciaràn”, are likely to have passed France by mid-morning.

In Britain, high winds were expected in the counties of Cornwall and Devon until mid-morning. “Emir” is expected to rage on the south-east coast from Hampshire to Kent and Essex until the evening. The British weather service Met Office warned of a danger to life from flying debris and falling trees.

Coast Guard warns people

A major incident was reported in the county of Hampshire as of midnight. Several ferry companies canceled their connections on the English Channel on Thursday. Flooding was expected along the coast. The British Coast Guard warned people not to stay near the coast. On the Channel Island of Jersey, the weather service warned Thursday night of wind gusts that could reach speeds of almost 100 miles per hour in the early morning.

In France, train services in the regions of Brittany, Normandy, Pays de Loire, Hauts de France and Center Val de Loire were largely suspended on Thursday. In three particularly hard-hit departments, Transport Minister Clément Beaune called on people not to use cars. Trucks were also initially not allowed to drive. In some cases, reduced speed limits should apply in road traffic. Communities had strengthened dams and set up additional barricades near the coast on Wednesday.

Power outages, fallen trees

According to media reports, there were power outages and trees fell in several places in France overnight. One person was slightly injured in a traffic accident in the western department of Finistère. There were a number of firefighting operations. Flights were unable to land at Nantes airport due to the weather and were diverted south to Toulouse.

Other countries are also likely to feel the bottom on Thursday. Warnings were issued for the storm in large parts of the Netherlands. The Meteorological Institute expects wind gusts of up to 110 kilometers per hour on Thursday, especially on the coast. The ANWB car club called on people to work from home on Thursday if possible. Extremely long traffic jams are expected due to strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Belgium was also affected

In Belgium, parks and other forest areas must remain closed in some places as a precaution. According to the railway, no trains will run between France and Belgium on Thursday. According to the information, trains are not allowed to run between the city of Bruges and the North Sea coast; other trains have a speed limit. According to forecasts from the Royal Meteorological Institute, wind gusts of 80 to 90 km/h are expected in Belgium in the east of the country and 100 to 110 km/h in the west.

Germany should also feel some of the bottoming, but only very weakly. The German weather service expects wind gusts of up to 85 kilometers per hour, especially at higher altitudes and on the North Sea coast, and up to 100 kilometers per hour on the Brocken in the Harz Mountains. (SDA)

Source: Blick