Storms Dudley and Eunice

After Storm Dudley/Ylenia menaced parts of the UK and Northern Europe February 16 and 17 with high winds, an even stronger Storm Eunice/Zeynep swept in to cause damage in the region February 18 to 20.

Dudley/Ylenia disrupted train service in Scotland, parts of England, and the Netherlands, as well as long distance train service in the northern half of Germany. Flights were delayed or canceled at major airports in Germany and the Netherlands and some domestic flights in Poland were rerouted.

About 14,000 customers in parts of northeast England, 54,000 in North Rhine-Westphalia, and 300,000 in the Czech Republic were left without power at the height of the storm.

Five deaths have been attributed to Dudley/Ylenia, three in Germany and two in Poland.

Storm Eunice/Zeynep

Close on the heels of Dudley/Ylenia, Storm Eunice/Zeynep brought more high winds, prompting the UK’s Met Office to issue rare red warnings, denoting a life-threatening storm, for southern England and parts of Wales through February 18. This was the first time in 11 years that the Met Office issued a red warning. Countries in continental Europe also issued severe weather warnings ahead of the storm’s impact there. A wind gust of 122 mph (195 km/h) was recorded on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England, which if confirmed would be the country’s highest ever, the Met Office said. The previous record was a 118 mph (188.8 km/h) gust set in 1979 at Gwennap Head in Cornwall. Gusts of more than 200 km/h were also reported elsewhere on Friday.

To give an idea of the damaging winds, images showing part of the roof of the O2 Arena, formerly known as the Millennium Dome, in London shredded by the storm’s high winds were quickly circulated. The venue shut down on Friday as a result. Extreme wind speeds in London are relatively rare. Later on, the Netherlands reported that parts of the roof of the stadium of football team ADO Den Haag was ripped off in the Hague. There are widespread reports of wind damage to homes and businesses in the UK and continental Europe, including roofs torn off.

Transportation of all types, including hundreds of domestic and international flights and rail, and road travel, was disrupted in the UK and continental Europe.

Many schools in coastal districts of Britain were closed Friday, as were attractions in and around London, including the London Eye. 

Nearly half a million customers in Britain lost power at the height of the storm, in addition to millions of homes and businesses across Europe.

At least 16 deaths have been attributed to Eunice/Zeynep in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, mostly by fallen trees, airborne debris, and storm-related road accidents.

Although Storm Franklin followed close behind, its effects were not as impactful as Eunice’s.