Bomb cyclone storm Ciarán: Europe’s deadliest weather event

Europe was hit hard by the powerful bomb cyclone Storm Ciarán on Thursday, with hurricane-force winds exceeding 100 mph in several areas. The storm resulted in at least 12 fatalities and over a million power outages across Europe.

In France, a falling tree hit a truck driver near Paris and caused him to lose his life. Another individual also lost his life in Le Havre. Gerald Darmanin, France’s Minister of the Interior, reported that the storm injured 16 people, seriously wounding one. The injured included seven firefighters.

The storm’s impact extended to neighboring countries, causing five additional fatalities, including two in Belgium, and one each in Spain, the Netherlands, and Germany.

In Italy, flash floods in the Tuscany region led to the deaths of at least five people. The floodwaters, which rose rapidly, were captured in videos showing cars being swept away by the fast-moving water. Nearly 8 inches of rain fell in the region, leading to a state of emergency. Eugenio Giani, the president of Tuscany, announced the deployment of inflatable boats and helicopters for urgent rescue operations.

Rail services cancelled

The French interior ministry says they will deploy some 3,200 firefighters in the most vulnerable areas. The authorities, warning of falling trees and blocked roads, urge people to stay indoors if possible and avoid the coast.

The national rail operator SNCF has halted regional trains in the areas most affected and also cancelled numerous high-speed TGV rail services. Expecting disruptions and slowdowns, Eurostar recommended to AFP that passengers postpone their planned trips for Thursday.

Authorities will close the airport in Brest, western Brittany, from Wednesday late afternoon to early Thursday, and they are going to stop most ferry traffic to Breton islands. Quimper airport, also in Brittany, closed early Wednesday for 24 hours.

"Olivier Caumont, also at Meteo-France, warned reporters that coastal flooding is likely from early Thursday, with waves potentially reaching up to 10 metres (33 feet). Maritime authorities issued a strong warning, advising against taking boats out to sea or even approaching the coast by car or foot."

Deadly impacts felt across Europe

Storm Ciarán, which rapidly intensified into a bomb cyclone, wreaked havoc across Europe with hurricane-force winds exceeding 100 mph in several areas. The storm’s central pressure plummeted from 989 millibars to 953 millibars within 24 hours, setting a record for the lowest atmospheric pressure measured in England in November.

Southern England and northern France felt the storm's most destructive effects. At Pointe du Raz in France, they recorded gusts of 129 mph, and at Ile de Batz, they recorded 121 mph. In Brest, they evacuated several homes after a crane collapsed.

The weather office in Belgium issued an orange alert for the Flemish coast and a yellow alert for the rest of the country, urging extreme caution. Authorities closed parks in Brussels, Antwerp, and Liege. They also declared outdoor sports facilities and natural reserves in West Flanders and East Flanders off-limits.

In the Netherlands, a code yellow alert was issued, and motorists were advised to work from home. Several schools announced closures or partial closures.

They also expected the storm's impact in Spain, predicting wind speeds of up to 90 kph. Authorities advised people to secure loose items and avoid walking under trees.

Scientists suggest that while storms are natural occurrences, their severity can be amplified by climate change. Rising ocean levels due to melting glaciers are likely to exacerbate flooding.

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