The Braer storm was the strongest recorded European windstorm
European windstorms are large and powerful extratropical systems that move across the North Atlantic ocean into European waters. European windstorms normally form in winter months, but they can form anytime of the year. The most active winters for European windstorms are when the North Atlantic Oscillation is positive. European windstorms are named by the Free University of Berlin through name request. The 1999-2011 average for European windstorms is 139.8 windstorms per year.
Please note the European Windstorm Centre is not open at the moment, but will resume issuing advisories and windstorm outlooks on October 1, 2013. Windstorm outlooks will be issued if a significant system develops.
Windstorm Outlook[]
The windstorm outlook, which contains information about potential upcoming windstorms, can be found here.
Current European windstorms[]
No European windstorms are active.
European Windstorm Scale (EWS)[]
As there is no official rating for European Windstorms, our own senior meteorologist Kiewii developed the unofficial European Windstorm Scale, which rates windstorms based on their barometric pressure.
| Category | Pressure Ranges | Equivalent SSHWS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | >1000 mbar | TS | ||
| 2 | 999 - 986 mbar | TS | 1 | |
| 3 | 985-971 mbar | 1 | 2 | |
| 4 | 970-956 mbar | 2 | 3 | |
| 5 | <955 mbar | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Archive[]
Products have not been issued. See the Free University of Berlin for more information.
Products have not been issued. See the Free University of Berlin for more information.
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Averages[]
| Month | Average windstorms |
|---|---|
| January | 14.6 |
| February | 12.2 |
| March | 13.1 |
| April | 11.0 |
| May | 10.8 |
| June | 10.0 |
| July | 9.8 |
| August | 10.0 |
| September | 8.8 |
| October | 10.0 |
| November | 14.1 |
| December | 15.6 |
External Links[]
Other helpful resources on European Windstorms.
- The Free University of Berlin
- Wetterzentrale (German)
- Past EW NCEP Analysis Since 1871
- British Met Office
Forecasts