List of European windstorms
Windstorms -- Severe European windstorms between 2010 and 2014
Table:
Name (other name)
Dates
Minimum pressure
Meteorological history

Xynthia
26 February–7 March 2010
967 hPa (28.6 inHg)[101]
A severe windstorm which was generated close to Madeira and from there moved across to the Canary Islands, then Portugal and much of western and northern Spain, before moving on to hit western and southwestern France. The highest gust speeds recorded as of midnight were at approximately 21:30 UTC at Alto de Orduña (228 km/h [142 mph]). 50 people have been reported to have died.[102]

Becky and Carmen
7–19 November 2010
951 hPa (28.1 inHg)[103]
Becky originated from a low-pressure area that formed off the southeast coast of Greenland on 7 November 2010.[104] It moved rapidly towards the United Kingdom, deepening to 960 hPa (28 inHg) on 8 November.[105] While Becky was making landfall on Cornwall on 9 November,[106] a low-pressure area over Nova Scotia was named Carmen.[106] By 10 November, Becky had weakened and become more elongated, Carmen had moved offshore and began strengthening.[107] On 11 November, Becky had been absorbed by Cyclone Anneli and Carmen had rapidly deepened to 965 hPa (28.5 inHg).[108] Carmen strengthened slightly on 12 November, while centred just offshore Aberdeen, Scotland.[109] On 13 November, it was centred over Scandinavia. It had split into two vortexes by that time.[110] It began moving rapidly to the northeast, and moved out of the Free University of Berlin's tracking charts on 16 November.

Ex-Hurricane Katia
11–18 September 2011
954 hPa (28.2 inHg)[111]
A tropical depression formed near the Cape Verde Islands in late-August, and strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane on 5 September. However, it later weakened rapidly to a Category 1 the next day. It later struck the United Kingdom with near hurricane-force winds and moved across the rest of northern Europe in the next few days. The remnants of Katia killed a man when a tree blew down on his car.[112] A maximum gust of 132 km/h (82 mph) was recorded, and caused widespread power outages throughout Europe, as far east as Russia.[113]

Berit (Xaver)
22–29 November 2011
944 hPa (27.9 inHg)[114]
A tropical wave that developed east of the Lesser Antilles was first noted for a 10% chance of becoming a tropical or subtropical cyclone by the National Hurricane Center on 19 November.[115] The center then said on 21 November that the wave had a 60% chance of becoming a subtropical cyclone, and was also gaining frontal characteristics.[116] The system then acquired extratropical features and on 22 November, it was named Xaver by the Free University of Berlin. Xaver then began a rapid strengthening phase, and deepened almost 30 mb (0.89 inHg) to 944 mb (27.9 inHg). Wind gusts reached 184 km/h (114 mph) in the Faroe Islands causing widespread damage.[117] One woman died after her car got blown into a loch in Scotland.[118]

Bawbag (Friedhelm)
7–13 December 2011
956 hPa (28.2 inHg)[119]
The system that would become Friedhelm formed over the Labrador Sea on 5 December 2011 with a central pressure of 997 mb (29.4 inHg).[120] As the system moved into the North Atlantic Ocean, it was named Friedhelm by the Free University of Berlin. On 8 December at midnight, Friedhelm was located west of the British Isles with a central pressure of 977 mb (28.9 inHg).[121] By the next day, 9 December, the large system was located over the North Sea with a deep central pressure of 956 mb (28.2 inHg).[122] Friedhelm then weakened as it moved over Scandinavia.[123]

In preparation for the storm, the Met Office issued a red wind warning for the Scottish Central Belt.[124] Most schools in Scotland were closed by lunchtime.[125] The Forth, Tay, Erskine and Skye Bridges were all closed due to strong winds.[126] The summit of CairnGorm recorded a gust up to 165 mph (266 km/h), also recording sustained winds up to 105 mph (169 km/h).[127][128] As the storm moved into Scandinavia, the Swedish Meteorological Institute issued a Class 2 warning.[129]

The storm was named Friedhelm on 7 December by the Free University of Berlin and was named Bawbag in Scotland, which, became the most common name.

Hergen
11–19 December 2011
946 hPa (27.9 inHg)[130]
On 11 December 2012, an area of low pressure emerged over the northwestern Atlantic Ocean near Newfoundland.[131] By the next day, Hergen intensified rapidly as it sped across the Atlantic, deepening to 980 mb (29 inHg). Bombing occurred within the center of the storm and it attained peak intensity on 13 December with a central pressure of 945 mb (27.9 inHg), equivalent to a category 4 hurricane. Hergen was so strong that it had absorbed the circulation of another low named 'Gunther'. By this time, the Cairn Gorm weather station had recorded a 111 mph (179 km/h) wind gust.[131] As Hergen moved northeastwards, it began to weaken while located over the Shetland Isles on 14 December. The storm remained stationary until 16 December offshore the west coast of Norway. The vortex continued to weaken until it dissipated on 20 December.[131]

Joachim
15–21 December 2011
968 hPa (28.6 inHg)[132]
A low-pressure area formed north of Puerto Rico on 13 December and rapidly moved towards Europe. The storm caused power outages and travel disruption in France, Germany, and Switzerland.[133]

Patrick (Dagmar)
24–27 December 2011
964 hPa (28.5 inHg)[134]
Formed as secondary low to Cato, affecting central Norway,[135] Sweden[136] and Finland.[137] A F2 tornado was reported in Hellesylt, Norway.

Ulli (Emil)
31 December 2011–6 January 2012
952 hPa (28.1 inHg)[138]
A weak low pressure system formed over the Mid-west of the United States on 30 December. This low moved into the Atlantic Ocean the next day and was named Ulli by the FU-Berlin. On 2 January, the Met Office began issuing weather warnings for most of the country. Blizzard warnings were issued for northern Scotland, while a heavy rain advisory was issued for southern England.[139] SkyWarn UK also issued their first Particularly Dangerous Situation warning of the year, along with a severe weather warning.[140] The storm rapidly deepened 9 millibars in just less than six hours. One person was killed after an oak tree fell on his car.[141] This storm was described as the worst in Scotland since the Boxing Day Storm of 1998 by the UK Met Office.[142]

Andrea
3–9 January 2012
966 hPa (28.5 inHg)[143]
Closely following Cyclone Ulli, the first named storm of 2012 formed southwest of Iceland, moving down into the North Sea affecting UK, Netherlands, Denmark and Germany.[144]

Gong
18–24 January 2013
968 hPa (28.6 inHg)[5]
An explosively deepening cyclone from the Atlantic brought high wind to Portugal. The cities of Lisbon and Porto registered wind gusts of 29 and 32.3 m/s (104 and 116 km/h; 65 and 72 mph). Widespread fallen trees and power cables left more than 1 million people without power.[145]

Christian (Saint Jude Day storm)[146]
26–31 October 2013
965 hPa (28.5 inHg)[147]
Named after the feast of Saint Jude the Apostle on 28 October, impact N Europe from 27 October. The storm was widely reported in the British press on 25 October, with predicted intensity comparisons made to the Great storm of 1987 and the Burns' Day storm of 1990. It hit the UK, and parts of northern Europe with gusts of up to 190 km/h (120 mph) recorded in Denmark. More than 10 people were killed in the storm.

Nordic Storm Series 2013
13 November – 19 December 2013
971 hPa (28.7 inHg)[148]

A series of storms affected the Nordic Nations during November and December as high pressure over Europe directed westerly flow over the Atlantic to Northern Europe.

Hilde (Otto/Eino) – 13–19 November 2013. 971 hPa (28.7 inHg).[148] The Norwegian meteorological institute issued an extreme weather warning over Hilde, expecting gusts up to 45 m/s (160 km/h; 100 mph) to hit central Norway on 16 November.

Oskari (Vincenc) – 29 November – 4 December 2013. 976 hPa (28.8 inHg).[149] Named by the Finnish Meteorological Institute.

Ivar (Seija)[150] – 10–17 December 2013. 977 hPa (28.9 inHg).[151] With a route and intensity similar to Hilde, Ivar once again brought hurricane-force winds to central Norway. In Sweden the storm left 55,000 across Norrland without power.[152] Near record level winds were reported from Finland, where 200,000 were left without power.[153] Estonia saw winds up to 115 km/h (71 mph) and 45,000 homes without electricity.[154]

Zaki – 12–16 December 2013 and Adam 14–19 December 2013. 952 hPa (28.1 inHg).[155] Faroese authorities measured at Oyndarfjørður on the island of Eysturoy extreme gusts measured at 73.9 m/s (266 km/h; 165 mph) which, according to official measurements may be a new record, higher than 66.9 m/s (241 km/h; 150 mph) recorded at Mykines in March 1997.[156] Though local orographic effects may prevent this wind speed reaching the record books.[156]

Xaver (Bodil)[157]
4–11 December 2013
962 hPa (28.4 inHg)[158]
Force 12 winds were forecast over the North Sea on 5 December. The system impacted densely populated areas in the UK, Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Poland.

2013–2014 Atlantic winter storms in Europe
17 December 2013–20 February 2014
927 hPa (27.4 inHg)

Bernd (Emily)[159] – 17–21 December 2013. 941 hPa (27.8 inHg).[160] An area of low pressure from the Atlantic brought wind gusts to the west of Ireland of 133 km/h (83 mph) causing power outages to 22,000 homes, and widespread disruption. Eight people were injured with one fatality reported in the country. The low also brought strong winds across Scotland and areas of England where one person was reported missing after falling from a cargo ship into the river Trent. Flood warnings were also raised across Scotland and Southwest England.[161]

Dirk – 21–28 December 2013. 927 hPa (27.4 inHg).[162][163] The UK Met Office issued national severe weather warnings for wind and rain across southwest and northern areas of the UK for 23 and 24 December.[164]

Erich – 25 December 2013 – 1 January 2014. 945 hPa (27.9 inHg).[160]

Weather fronts associated with the lows Felix and Gerhard passed over the UK (30–31 December and 2 January), which brought further rainfall and some stormy conditions.

Anne – 1–6 January 2014. 949 hPa (28.0 inHg).[160] Anne was a winter storm that affected western Europe bringing storm surges along the coasts of France and the United Kingdom on high spring tides a month after Cyclone Xaver brought surges during the previous peak tides to northern Europe.

Christina – 3–10 January 2014. 934 hPa (27.6 inHg).[160] An area of low pressure responsible for a winter storm in the US and Canada moved over the Atlantic and was named Christina by the Free University Berlin on 3 January.

Nadja (Brigid) – 29 January – 5 February 2014. 945 hPa (27.9 inHg).[165] Coastal flooding and damaging seas from Scotland to Spain, reports of a missing teenager in northern Spain[166] and woman washed away on the south coast of the UK.

Petra – 3–8 February 2014. 950 hPa (28 inHg).[167] Another coastal event with high seas washing away the railway line at Dawlish, Devon closing the Exeter to Plymouth line. Coastal flooding and high waves from Ireland to Spain, with Cork flooded again. The Cargo ship Luno is washed ashore and breaks in two near Bayonne, France raising fears of a pollution incident.

Qumaira – 4–8 February 2014. 975 hPa (28.8 inHg).[168] 36 French departments were placed on orange alert, with further flooding across Brittany, a wind gust of 128 km/h (80 mph) was recorded at I'lle d'Yeu, Vendée.[169]

Ruth (Charlie) – 6–11 February 2014. 945 hPa (27.9 inHg).[170] Mumbles, near Swansea recorded a high wind of 78 mph (126 km/h), Ciloerwent in Powys recorded a rainfall total of 32 mm (1.3 in) over 12 hours.[171]

Stephanie – 8–15 February 2014. 981 hPa (29.0 inHg).[172] Taking a more southerly track than most recent areas of low pressure, impacting the Iberian Peninsula and southern France before heading across the Mediterranean towards Italy. The Portuguese weather institute put the entire coast of Portugal on red alert on account of expected high seas and gale-force winds.[173]

Tini (Darwin) – 10–17 February 2014. 960 hPa (28 inHg).[174] The UK Met Office issued a rare red warning of wind for North Wales and north western England. Met Eireann issued a red alert for southwest Ireland in counties Cork and Kerry.

Ulla – 12–20 February 2014. 960 hPa (28 inHg).[175] In the UK the winds from Ulla were weaker than from Tini.[176] Thirty people were evacuated from a waterfront restaurant in Milford during a Valentine's Day meal after the windows were smashed down by high seas and winds.[176] 140,000 without power in the wake of the storm in the UK.[176]

Nordic Spring Storms
8–24 March 2014

The first three weeks of March 2014 saw areas of low pressure repeatedly cross Norway from the North Atlantic, coming in from the Norwegian Sea across to the Barents Sea. These storms brought with them warm and humid/moist air from the south west.[177]

Jorun (Norway) (unnamed by FUB) – In early March high pressure built over UK and western Europe for first time in months (since December), directing the Atlantic storm path to the north.[178] An area of low pressure designated extreme weather and named Jorun by Norwegian Meteorological Institute on 8 March 2014 brought hurricane-force winds to northern Norway.

Kyrre (Norway) – Another extreme weather event named by Norwegian Meteorological Institute as Kyrre affected north (Nordland and Troms) Norway on 13–14 March with extreme precipitation and wind. Up to 90 mm (3.5 in) fell in 24 hours, flooding, landslides and closing roads in Nordland and Troms.[177]

Carl (DMI) Ev (FUB) – 14–15 March. An intense low pressure brought high winds which damaged buildings and forestry in southern Norway on 14 March, with Hordaland recording the strongest winds in 20 years.[177] though the low didn't reach hurricane strength in Denmark.[179] Investigated by Perils AG and non-qualifying (losses less than €200 million).

Pentti (FMI) Hannelore III (FUB) – On 21–22 March, an area of low pressure drew across western Norway. In Hordaland and Sogn og Fjordane many places saw more than 100 mm (3.9 in) of precipitation in 24 hours, resulting in several landslides, which among other things led to five homes being evacuated in Nordheimsund. From 24 March an area of high pressure began to build across southern and mid Norway.[177] The low passed over Finland leaving 20,000 without power.[180]

Lena (Ursula)
7–11 August 2014
985 hPa (29.1 inHg)
An unusually powerful area of low pressure for the time of year brought record winds to the west of Norway ahead of Ex-hurricane Bertha, the highest gust of 42.0 m/s (151 km/h; 94 mph) was recorded at Kråkenes Lighthouse.[181][182]

Alexandra & Billie
7–15 December 2014
950 hPa (28 inHg)[183]
975 hPa (28.8 inHg)[184]

Explosive cyclogenesis over North Atlantic brought severe winds, flooding and thunderstorms to the northwestern parts of the UK. More than 30 000 households were left without power.[185]

A secondary low to Alexandra named Billie by FUB was named by SMHI as Alexander formed over southern England and developed en route to the Baltic region.[186] Two people were killed in Germany.[187]

Using the table and the supporting text listed.

Answer the following question: How many more people died in Germany than in Spain in the earliest storm that took place ? Provide just your answer in a JSON object {"answer": "YOUR ANSWER"}. Do not introduce information beyond the provided sources.

Cyclone Xynthia was an extraordinarily violent European windstorm which crossed Western Europe between 27 February and 1 March 2010 . It reached a minimum pressure of 967 mb ( 28.6 inHg ) on 27 February . In France - where it was described by the civil defence as the most violent since Lothar and Martin in December 1999 - at least 51 people were killed , with 12 more said to be missing . A further six people were killed in Germany , three in Spain , one in Portugal , one in Belgium and another one in England . Most of the deaths in France occurred when a powerful storm surge topped by battering waves up to 7.5 m ( 25 ft ) high , hitting at high tide , smashed through the sea wall off the coastal town of L'Aiguillon-sur-Mer . A mobile home park built close to the sea wall was particularly hard-hit . The sea wall was about two hundred years old , built in the time of Napoleon ; critics said that situating a mobile home park so close to the sea wall showed poor coastal development practices . The storm cut power to over a million homes in France and a million customers in Portugal lost power .
Cyclone Carmen ( also known as Windstorm Carmen ) was an extratropical cyclone and European windstorm which crossed the Atlantic Ocean and affected the United Kingdom , Ireland , France , Belgium , and the Netherlands in November 2010 .
Greenland ( Greenlandic : Kalaallit Nunaat , pronounced [ kalaːɬit nunaːt ] ; Danish : Grønland , pronounced [ ˈkʁɶnˌlænˀ ] ) is the world 's largest island , [ d ] located between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans , east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago . It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark . Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America , Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe ( specifically Norway and Denmark , the colonial powers , as well as the nearby island of Iceland ) for more than a millennium . The majority of its residents are Inuit , whose ancestors migrated from Alaska through Northern Canada , gradually settling across the island by the 13th century . Nowadays , the population is largely concentrated on the southwest coast , while the rest of the island is sparsely populated . Greenland is divided into five municipalities - Sermersooq , Kujalleq , Qeqertalik , Qeqqata , and Avannaata . It has two unincorporated areas - the Northeast Greenland National Park and the Thule Air Base . The last one , even if under Danish control , is administered by the United States Air Force . Three-quarters of Greenland is covered by the only permanent ice sheet outside Antarctica . With a population of about 56,480 ( 2013 ) , it is the least densely populated territory in the world . About a third of the population lives in Nuuk , the capital and largest city . The Arctic Umiaq Line ferry acts as a lifeline for western Greenland , connecting the various cities and settlements .
Cornwall ( /ˈkɔːrnwɔːl , -wəl/ ; Cornish : Kernow [ ˈkɛrnɔʊ ] ) is a ceremonial county in South West England , bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea , to the south by the English Channel , and to the east by Devon , the River Tamar forming the border between them . Cornwall is the westernmost part of the South West Peninsula of the island of Great Britain . The southwesternmost point is Land 's End and the southernmost Lizard Point . Cornwall has a population of 568,210 and an area of 3,563 km2 ( 1,376 sq mi ) . The county has been administered since 2009 by the unitary authority , Cornwall Council . The ceremonial county of Cornwall also includes the Isles of Scilly , which are administered separately . The administrative centre of Cornwall is Truro , its only city . Cornwall is the homeland of the Cornish people and the cultural and ethnic origin of the Cornish diaspora . It retains a distinct cultural identity that reflects its history , and is recognised as one of the Celtic nations . It was formerly a Brythonic kingdom and subsequently a royal duchy . The Cornish nationalist movement contests the present constitutional status of Cornwall and seeks greater autonomy within the United Kingdom in the form of a devolved legislative Cornish Assembly with powers similar to those in Wales and Scotland . In 2014 , Cornish people were granted minority status under the European Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities , giving them recognition as a distinct ethnic group .
Nova Scotia ( /noʊvə ˈskoʊʃə/ ) is a province in eastern Canada . With a population of 923,598 as of 2016 , it is the most populous of Canada 's three Maritime provinces and the four Atlantic provinces . It is the country 's second most-densely populated province and second-smallest province by area , both after neighbouring Prince Edward Island . Its area of 55,284 square kilometres ( 21,345 sq mi ) includes Cape Breton Island and 3,800 other coastal islands . The peninsula that makes up Nova Scotia 's mainland is connected to the rest of North America by the Isthmus of Chignecto , on which the province 's land border with New Brunswick is located . The province borders the Bay of Fundy to the northwest and the Atlantic Ocean to the south and east , and is separated from Prince Edward Island and the island of Newfoundland by the Northumberland and Cabot straits , respectively . The land that comprises what is now Nova Scotia has been inhabited by the indigenous Miꞌkmaq people for thousands of years . France 's first settlement in North America , Port-Royal , was established in 1605 and intermittently served in various locations as the capital of the French colony of Acadia for over a hundred years . The Fortress of Louisbourg was a key focus point in the struggle between the British and French for control of the area , changing hands numerous times in the until France relinquished its claims with the Treaty of Paris in 1763 . During the American Revolutionary War , thousands of Loyalists settled in Nova Scotia . In 1848 , Nova Scotia became the first British colony to achieve responsible government , and it federated in July 1867 with New Brunswick and the Province of Canada ( now Ontario and Quebec ) to form what is now the country of Canada . Nova Scotia 's capital and largest city is Halifax , which is today home to about 45 per cent of the province 's population , is the thirteenth-largest census metropolitan area in Canada , the largest city in Atlantic Canada , and Canadas second largest coastal city ( after Vancouver ) .
Aberdeen ( /ˌæbərˈdiːn/ ( listen ) ; Scots : Aiberdeen , listen ( help·info ) ; Scottish Gaelic : Obar Dheathain [ opəɾ ˈɛ.ɛɲ ] ; Latin : Aberdonia ) is a city in northeast Scotland . It is Scotland 's third most populous city , one of Scotland 's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom 's 39th most populous built-up area , with an official population estimate of 196,670 for the city of Aberdeen and 227,560 for the local council area . During the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries , Aberdeen 's buildings incorporated locally quarried grey granite , which can sparkle like silver because of its high mica content . Since the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s , Aberdeen has been known as the off-shore oil capital of Europe . The area around Aberdeen has been settled for at least 8,000 years , when prehistoric villages lay around the mouths of the rivers Dee and Don . The city has a long , sandy coastline and a marine climate , the latter resulting in chilly summers and mild winters . Aberdeen received Royal burgh status from David I of Scotland ( 1124-1153 ) , transforming the city economically . The city has two universities , the University of Aberdeen , founded in 1495 , and Robert Gordon University , which was awarded university status in 1992 , making Aberdeen the educational centre of north-east Scotland . The traditional industries of fishing , paper-making , shipbuilding , and textiles have been overtaken by the oil industry and Aberdeen 's seaport . Aberdeen Heliport is one of the busiest commercial heliports in the world and the seaport is the largest in the north-east of Scotland . Aberdeen used to host the Aberdeen International Youth Festival , a major international event which attracted up to 1000 of the most talented young performing arts companies but the council ended funding in 2017 and the festival was wound up in 2018 . In 2015 , Mercer named Aberdeen the 57th most liveable city in the world , as well as the fourth most liveable city in Britain .
Scotland ( Scots : Scotland , Scottish Gaelic : Alba [ ˈal̪ˠapə ] ( listen ) ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom . It covers the northern third of the island of Great Britain , with a border with England to the southeast , and is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west , the North Sea to the northeast , the Irish Sea to the south , and more than 790 islands , including the Northern Isles and the Hebrides . The Kingdom of Scotland emerged as an independent sovereign state in the European Early Middle Ages and continued to exist until 1707 . By inheritance in 1603 , James VI , King of Scots , became king of England and Ireland , thus forming a personal union of the three kingdoms . Scotland subsequently entered into a political union with England on 1 May 1707 to create the new Kingdom of Great Britain . The union also created a new Parliament of Great Britain , which succeeded both the Parliament of Scotland and the Parliament of England . In 1801 , Great Britain entered into a political union with Ireland to create the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland ( in 1922 , the Irish Free State seceded from the United Kingdom , leading to the latter being renamed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1927 ) . Within Scotland , the monarchy of the United Kingdom has continued to use a variety of styles , titles and other royal symbols of statehood specific to the pre-union Kingdom of Scotland . The legal system within Scotland has also remained separate from those of England and Wales and Northern Ireland ; Scotland constitutes a distinct jurisdiction in both public and private law . The continued existence of legal , educational , religious and other institutions distinct from those in the remainder of the UK have all contributed to the continuation of Scottish culture and national identity since the 1707 union with England . In 1997 , a Scottish Parliament was re-established , in the form of a devolved unicameral legislature comprising 129 members , having authority over many areas of domestic policy . The head of the Scottish Government is the first minister of Scotland , who is supported by the deputy first minister of Scotland .
Scandinavia [ b ] ( /ˌskændɪˈneɪviə/ SKAN-dih-NAY-vee-ə ) is a region in Northern Europe , with strong historical , cultural , and linguistic ties . The term Scandinavia in local usage covers the three kingdoms of Denmark , Norway , and Sweden . The majority national languages of these three belong to the Scandinavian dialect continuum , and are mutually intelligible North Germanic languages . In English usage , Scandinavia also sometimes refers more narrowly to the Scandinavian Peninsula , or more broadly so as to include Finland , the Faroe Islands , and Iceland . [ a ] The broader definition is similar to what are locally called the Nordic countries , which also include the remote Norwegian islands of Svalbard and Jan Mayen and Greenland , a constituent country within the Kingdom of Denmark .
Hurricane Katia was a fairly intense Cape Verde hurricane that had substantial impact across Europe as a post-tropical cyclone . The eleventh named storm , second hurricane , and second major hurricane of the active 2011 Atlantic hurricane season , Katia originated as a tropical depression from a tropical wave over the eastern Atlantic on August 29 . It intensified into a tropical storm the following day and further developed into a hurricane by September 1 , although unfavorable atmospheric conditions hindered strengthening thereafter . As the storm began to recurve over the western Atlantic , a more hospitable regime allowed Katia to become a major hurricane by September 5 and peak as a Category 4 hurricane with winds of 140 mph ( 220 km/h ) that afternoon . Internal core processes , increased wind shear , an impinging cold front , and increasingly cool ocean temperatures all prompted the cyclone to weaken almost immediately after peak , and Katia ultimately transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on September 10 . Although Katia passed well north of the Lesser Antilles , a yellow alert was hoisted for Guadeloupe to notify residents of dangerous seas . Strong rip currents along the East Coast of the United States led to the deaths of two swimmers . After losing its tropical characteristics , Katia prompted the issuance of numerous warnings across Europe . Hurricane-force winds impacted numerous locations , downing trees , toppling power poles , and leaving thousands without electricity . The storm was responsible for two deaths in the United Kingdom : one when a tree fell on a vehicle in County Durham , and another during a multi-car accident on the M54 motorway resulting from adverse weather conditions . The post-tropical cyclone caused approximately £100m ( $ 157 million , 2011 USD ) in damage in the United Kingdom alone .
Cape Verde ( /ˈvɜːrd ( i ) / ( listen ) ) or Cabo Verde ( /ˌkɑːboʊ ˈvɜːrdeɪ/ ( listen ) , /ˌkæb-/ ) ( Portuguese : Cabo Verde , pronounced [ ˈkabu ˈveɾdɨ ] ) , officially the Republic of Cabo Verde , is an island country spanning an archipelago of 10 volcanic islands in the central Atlantic Ocean . It forms part of the Macaronesia ecoregion , along with the Azores , Canary Islands , Madeira , and the Savage Isles . Located 570 kilometres ( 350 mi ) west of the Cape Verde Peninsula off the coast of Northwest Africa , the islands cover a combined area of slightly over 4,000 square kilometres ( 1,500 sq mi ) . The Cape Verde archipelago was uninhabited until the 15th century , when Portuguese explorers discovered and colonized the islands , establishing the first European settlement in the tropics . Ideally located for the Atlantic slave trade , the islands grew prosperous throughout the 16th and 17th centuries , attracting merchants , privateers , and pirates . The end of transatlantic slavery in the 19th century led to economic decline and emigration . Cape Verde gradually recovered as an important commercial center and stopover for shipping routes . Incorporated as an overseas department of Portugal in 1951 , the islands continued to campaign for independence , which was achieved in 1975 . Since the early 1990s , Cape Verde has been a stable representative democracy , and remains one of the most developed and democratic countries in Africa . Lacking natural resources , its developing economy is mostly service-oriented , with a growing focus on tourism and foreign investment . Its population of around 540,000 is mostly of mixed European , Moorish , Arab and African heritage , and predominantly Roman Catholic , reflecting the legacy of Portuguese rule . A sizeable diaspora community exists across the world , slightly outnumbering inhabitants on the islands .
Cyclone Berit ( also named Cyclone Xaver by the Free University of Berlin ) was a very strong European windstorm that formed as a tropical wave near the Lesser Antilles in mid-November 2011 . The storm began producing heavy rain and snow over Northern Europe on 24 and 25 November . Scotland saw its first snowfall since March , earlier in the year . The Faroe Islands also reported winds up to 198 km/h ( 55 m/s ; 123 mph ) and excessive damage . On 25 November , the Norwegian Weather Service named the storm 'Berit ' . Another storm , called Yoda , hit Scotland just a day after Xaver . The storm Yoda was widely known as Lille-Berit ( Little-Berit ) in Scandinavia , as the Norwegian Weather Service did not issue it with an official name .
The Lesser Antilles ( Spanish : Pequeñas Antillas ; French : Petites Antilles ; Papiamento : Antias Menor ; Dutch : Kleine Antillen ) is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea . Most form a long , partly volcanic island arc between the Greater Antilles to the north-west and the continent of South America . The islands form the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean . Together , the Lesser Antilles and the Greater Antilles compose the Antilles ( or the Caribbean in its narrowest definition ) . When combined with the Lucayan Archipelago , all three are known as the West Indies .
The National Hurricane Center ( NHC ) is the division of the United States ' NOAA/National Weather Service responsible for tracking and predicting tropical weather systems between the Prime Meridian and the 140th meridian west poleward to the 30th parallel north in the northeast Pacific Ocean and the 31st parallel north in the northern Atlantic Ocean . The agency , which is co-located with the Miami branch of the National Weather Service , is situated on the campus of Florida International University in University Park , Florida . The NHC 's Tropical Analysis and Forecast Branch ( TAFB ) routinely issues marine forecasts , in the form of graphics and high seas forecasts year round , with the Ocean Prediction Center having backup responsibility for this unit . The Technology and Science Branch ( TSB ) provides technical support for the center , which includes new infusions of technology from abroad . The Chief , Aerial Reconnaissance Coordination , All Hurricanes ( CARCAH ) unit tasks planes , for research and operational purposes , to tropical cyclones during the Atlantic hurricane season and significant weather events , including snow storms , during winter and spring . Research to improve operational forecasts is done through the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project ( HFIP ) and Joint Hurricane Test Bed ( JHT ) initiatives . During the Atlantic and northeast Pacific hurricane seasons , the Hurricane Specialists Unit ( HSU ) issues routine tropical weather outlooks for the northeast Pacific and northern Atlantic oceans . When tropical storm or hurricane conditions are expected within 48 hours , the center issues watches and warnings via the news media and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) Weather Radio . Although the NHC is an agency of the United States , the World Meteorological Organization has designated it as the Regional Specialized Meteorological Center for the North Atlantic and eastern Pacific , making it the clearinghouse for tropical cyclone forecasts and observations occurring in these areas . If the NHC loses power or becomes incapacitated , the Central Pacific Hurricane Center backs tropical cyclone advisories and tropical weather outlooks for the northeast Pacific Ocean while the Weather Prediction Center backs up tropical cyclone advisories and tropical weather outlooks for the North Atlantic Ocean .
The Faroe Islands ( /ˈfɛəroʊ/ ; Faroese : Føroyar , pronounced [ ˈfœɹjaɹ ] ; Danish : Færøerne , pronounced [ ˈfæɐ̯ˌøˀɐnə ] ) , or the Faeroe Islands , is a North Atlantic archipelago located 320 kilometres ( 200 mi ) north-northwest of Scotland , and about halfway between Norway and Iceland . It is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark . The islands have a total area of about 1,400 square kilometres ( 540 sq mi ) with a population of 51,783 as of June 2019 [ update ] . The terrain is rugged ; the climate is subpolar oceanic climate ( Cfc ) - windy , wet , cloudy , and cool . Temperatures average above freezing throughout the year because of the Gulf Stream . As a result of the moderation and the northerly latitude , summers normally hover around 12 °C ( 54 °F ) . Average temperatures are 5 °C ( 41 °F ) in winter . The northerly latitude location also results in perpetual civil twilight during summer nights and very short winter days . Between 1035 and 1814 the Faroes were part of the Kingdom of Norway , which was in a personal union with Denmark from 1450 . In 1814 the Treaty of Kiel transferred Norway to the king of Sweden , on the winning side of the Napoleonic wars , whereas the king of Denmark , on the losing side , retained the Faroes , along with the two other historical Norwegian island possessions in the North Atlantic : Greenland and Iceland . The Faroe Islands have been a self-governing part of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1948 . The Faroese control most of their domestic affairs .
Cyclone Friedhelm , also referred to unofficially as Hurricane Bawbag , [ nb 1 ] was an intense extratropical cyclone which brought hurricane-force winds to Scotland at the beginning of December 2011 . The storm also brought prolonged gales and rough seas to the rest of the British Isles , as well as parts of Scandinavia . On 8 December , winds reached up to 165 mph ( 266 km/h ) at elevated areas , with sustained wind speeds of up to 80 mph ( 130 km/h ) reported across populous areas . The winds uprooted trees and resulted in the closure of many roads , bridges , schools and businesses . Overall , the storm was the worst to affect Scotland in 10 years , though a stronger storm occurred less than a month afterwards , on 3 January 2012 . Although the follow-up storm was more intense , the winter of 2011-12 is usually remembered for Bawbag among Scots .
The Labrador Sea ( French : mer du Labrador , Danish : Labradorhavet ) is an arm of the North Atlantic Ocean between the Labrador Peninsula and Greenland . The sea is flanked by continental shelves to the southwest , northwest , and northeast . It connects to the north with Baffin Bay through the Davis Strait . It has been described as a marginal sea of the Atlantic . The sea formed upon separation of the North American Plate and Greenland Plate that started about 60 million years ago and stopped about 40 million years ago . It contains one of the world 's largest turbidity current channel systems , the Northwest Atlantic Mid-Ocean Channel ( NAMOC ) , that runs for thousands of kilometers along the sea bottom toward the Atlantic Ocean . The Labrador Sea is a major source of the North Atlantic Deep Water , a cold water mass that flows at great depth along the western edge of the North Atlantic , spreading out to form the largest identifiable water mass in the World Ocean .
The North Sea is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean located between Great Britain ( England and Scotland ) , Denmark , Norway , Germany , the Netherlands , Belgium and France . An epeiric ( or shelf ) sea on the European continental shelf , it connects to the ocean through the English Channel in the south and the Norwegian Sea in the north . It is more than 970 kilometres ( 600 mi ) long and 580 kilometres ( 360 mi ) wide , with an area of 570,000 square kilometres ( 220,000 sq mi ) . The North Sea has long been the site of important European shipping lanes as well as a major fishery . The coast is a popular destination for recreation and tourism in bordering countries , and more recently the sea has developed into a rich source of energy resources , including fossil fuels , wind , and early efforts in wave power . Historically , the North Sea has featured prominently in geopolitical and military affairs , particularly in Northern Europe . It was also important globally through the power northern Europeans projected worldwide during much of the Middle Ages and into the modern era . The North Sea was the centre of the Vikings ' rise . Subsequently , the Hanseatic League , the Netherlands , and the British each sought to dominate the North Sea and thus access to the world 's markets and resources . As Germany 's only outlet to the ocean , the North Sea continued to be strategically important through both World Wars . The coast of the North Sea presents a diversity of geological and geographical features . In the north , deep fjords and sheer cliffs mark the Norwegian and Scottish coastlines , whereas in the south , the coast consists primarily of sandy beaches and wide mudflats .
The Forth Road Bridge is a suspension bridge in east central Scotland . The bridge opened in 1964 and at the time was the longest suspension bridge in the world outside the United States . The bridge spans the Firth of Forth , connecting Edinburgh , at South Queensferry , to Fife , at North Queensferry . It replaced a centuries-old ferry service to carry vehicular traffic , cyclists and pedestrians across the Forth ; railway crossings are made by the nearby Forth Bridge , opened in 1890 . The Scottish Parliament voted to scrap tolls on the bridge from February 2008 . The adjacent Queensferry Crossing was opened in August 2017 to carry the M90 motorway across the Firth of Forth , replacing the Forth Road Bridge which had exceeded its design capacity . At its peak , the Forth Road Bridge carried 65,000 vehicles per day . The Forth Road Bridge was subsequently closed for repairs and refurbishment . It reopened in February 2018 , now redesignated as a dedicated Public Transport Corridor , with access to motor vehicles other than buses and taxis restricted ; [ a ] pedestrians and cyclists are still permitted to use the bridge . Starting in or before 2021 , Stagecoach Fife will be carrying out the first driverless bus trial to carry passengers in the United Kingdom along a park-and-ride route which includes the Forth Road Bridge as its main section .
The Tay Road Bridge carries the A92 road across the Firth of Tay from Newport-on-Tay in Fife to Dundee in Scotland , just downstream of the Tay Rail Bridge . At around 2,250 metres ( 1.4 mi ) , it is one of the longest road bridges in Europe , and was opened in 1966 , replacing the old Tay ferry .
The Erskine Bridge is a multi span cable-stayed box girder bridge spanning the River Clyde in west central Scotland . The bridge connects West Dunbartonshire with Renfrewshire and can be used by all types of motor vehicles , cyclists and pedestrians . As well as crossing the Clyde , the bridge also crosses the Forth and Clyde Canal and the North Clyde railway line . A small part of Kilpatrick railway station is situated underneath the bridge at the north side . The bridge is part of the A898 road . On completion the bridge replaced the Erskine to Old Kilpatrick ferry service .
The Skye Bridge ( Scottish Gaelic : Drochaid an Eilein Sgitheanaich ) is a road bridge over Loch Alsh , Scotland , connecting the Isle of Skye to the island of Eilean Bàn . The name is also used for the whole Skye Crossing , which further connects Eilean Bàn to the mainland across the Carrich Viaduct . The crossing forms part of the A87 . Traditionally , the usual route from the mainland to Skye was the shortest crossing , with a length of around 500 metres ( 1,640 ft ) , across the sound between the villages of Kyle of Lochalsh on the mainland and Kyleakin on the island 's east coast . A ferry service operated from around 1600 , run by private operators and latterly by Caledonian MacBrayne .
Cyclone Hergen was an intense European windstorm that moved across Northern Europe during mid December 2011 . It was first noted over the central North Atlantic Ocean by the Met Office . It then later reached peak intensity just northwest of Ireland and then crossed the north of Scotland hours later . It hung around the coast of Norway for the next week before being absorbed by another strong windstorm named Joachim . Hergen was not the first storm to strike Western Europe during the last week as Cyclone Friedhelm brought widespread damage and very strong winds on 8 December . Hergen was followed by Joachim a few days later , then Oliver/Patrick ( Cato/Dagmar ) during the Christmas holiday . Cyclone Ulli then brought major damage and flooding to Northern Europe during the early part of January 2012 .
Explosive cyclogenesis ( also referred to as a weather bomb , meteorological bomb , explosive development , bomb cyclone or bombogenesis ) is the rapid deepening of an extratropical cyclonic low-pressure area . The change in pressure needed to classify something as explosive cyclogenesis is latitude dependent . For example , at 60° latitude , explosive cyclogenesis occurs if the central pressure decreases by 24 mbar ( hPa ) or more in 24 hours . This is a predominantly maritime , winter event , but also occurs in continental settings , even in the summer . [ failed verification ] This process is the extratropical equivalent of the tropical rapid deepening . Although their cyclogenesis is totally different from that of tropical cyclones , bomb cyclones can produce winds of 74-95 mph , the same order as the first categories of the Saffir-Simpson scale and give heavy precipitation . Even though only a minority of the bombs become so strong , some have caused significant damage .
The Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale ( SSHWS ) , formerly the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale ( SSHS ) , classifies hurricanes - Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones - that exceed the intensities of tropical depressions and tropical storms - into five categories distinguished by the intensities of their sustained winds .
Cairn Gorm ( Cairngorm ) ( Gaelic : An Càrn Gorm , meaning Blue or Green Hill ) is a mountain in the Scottish Highlands overlooking Strathspey and the town of Aviemore . At 1245 metres ( 4084 ft ) it is the sixth-highest mountain in the United Kingdom . It has given its name to the whole range , although these hills were historically known as Am Monadh Ruadh ( the Red Hills ) rather than the Cairngorms . Cairn Gorm is the most prominent of the Cairngorm mountains in the view from Aviemore , but it is not the highest . 600 ha of the north-western slopes of the mountain have been developed since 1960 for downhill skiing , in Coire Cas and Coire na Ciste . In 2001 a funicular railway was constructed to provide access through Coire Cas to the Ptarmigan building at 1087m on Cairn Gorm . The corrie south of Coire Cas , Coire an t-Sneachda , is separated from the skiing area by a ridge known as Fiacaill a ' Choire Chais . The southern side of Cairn Gorm overlooks the remote loch known as Loch Avon ( pronounced Loch A'an ) . There is an automated weather station ( AWS ) controlled by Heriot-Watt University on the summit of the mountain providing temperature and wind speed data . There is also a separate AWS run by the Met Office ( synop code 03065 ) .
Shetland ( Scottish Gaelic : Sealtainn ) , also called the Shetland Islands and formerly Zetland , is a subarctic archipelago in the Northern Isles of Scotland , situated in the Northern Atlantic , between Great Britain , the Faroe Islands and Norway . The islands lie some 80 km ( 50 mi ) to the northeast of Orkney , 170 km ( 110 mi ) from the Scottish mainland and 300 km ( 190 mi ) west of Norway . They form part of the division between the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the North Sea to the east . The total area is 1,466 km2 ( 566 sq mi ) , and the population totalled 23,210 in 2011 . The islands comprise the Shetland constituency of the Scottish Parliament . The local authority , Shetland Islands Council , is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland . The islands ' administrative centre and only burgh is Lerwick , which has been the capital of Shetland since taking over from Scalloway in 1708 . The largest island , known as Mainland , has an area of 967 km2 ( 373 sq mi ) , making it the third-largest Scottish island and the fifth-largest of the British Isles . There are an additional 15 inhabited islands . The archipelago has an oceanic climate , a complex geology , a rugged coastline and many low , rolling hills . Humans have lived in Shetland since the Mesolithic period . The early historic period was dominated by Scandinavian influences , especially from Norway .
Joachim is the name given to a European windstorm which caused major damage in much of Western Europe between December 16-17 , 2011 . Winds gusting to 212 km/h ( 132 mph ) were recorded on the summit of Puy de Dôme in France . Joachim explosively deepened under the influence of a shortwave trough during its development .
Puerto Rico [ a ] ( Spanish for Rich Port ; abbreviated PR ) , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( Spanish : Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico , lit . Free Associated State of Puerto Rico ) [ b ] and briefly called Porto Rico , [ c ] is an unincorporated territory of the United States located in the northeast Caribbean Sea , approximately 1,000 miles ( 1,600 km ) southeast of Miami , Florida . An archipelago among the Greater Antilles , located between the Dominican Republic and the US Virgin Islands , Puerto Rico includes the eponymous main island and several smaller islands , such as Mona , Culebra , and Vieques . The capital and most populous city is San Juan . The territory 's total population is approximately 3.4 million , more than 21 U.S. states . Spanish and English are the official languages of the executive branch of government , though Spanish predominates . Originally populated by the indigenous Taíno people , Puerto Rico was colonized by Spain following the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1493 . It was contested by the French , Dutch , and British , but remained a Spanish possession for the next four centuries . The island 's cultural and demographic landscapes were shaped by the displacement and assimilation of the native population , the forced migration of African slaves , and settlement from the Canary Islands and Andalusia . In the Spanish Empire , Puerto Rico played a secondary but strategic role compared to wealthier colonies like Peru and New Spain . Spain 's distant administrative control continued up to the end of the 19th century , producing a distinctive creole Hispanic culture and language that combined indigenous , African , and European elements . On September 23 , 1868 , Ramón Emeterio Betances unleashed a revolt against Spanish rule , declaring for the first time the idea of Puerto Ricans as a distinct people , with right to sovereignty .
Cyclone Dagmar ( also referred to as Cyclone Tapani in Finland ) and as Cyclone Patrick by the Free University of Berlin ) was a powerful European windstorm which swept over Norway on Christmas Day 2011 , causing severe damage in central coastal areas , before continuing over the Scandinavian peninsula towards the Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland . The storm caused $ 45 million ( 2011 USD ) in damage .
The Fujita scale ( F-Scale ; /fuˈdʒiːtə/ ) , or Fujita-Pearson scale ( FPP scale ) , is a scale for rating tornado intensity , based primarily on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures and vegetation . The official Fujita scale category is determined by meteorologists and engineers after a ground or aerial damage survey , or both ; and depending on the circumstances , ground-swirl patterns ( cycloidal marks ) , weather radar data , witness testimonies , media reports and damage imagery , as well as photogrammetry or videogrammetry if motion picture recording is available . The Fujita scale was replaced with the Enhanced Fujita scale ( EF-Scale ) in the United States in February 2007 . In April 2013 , Canada adopted the EF-Scale over the Fujita scale along with 31 Specific Damage Indicators used by Environment Canada ( EC ) in their ratings .
This is a list of all tornadoes that were confirmed throughout Europe by the European Severe Storms Laboratory and local meteorological agencies during 2011 . Unlike the United States , the original Fujita Scale and the TORRO scale are used to rank tornadoes across the continent .
Hellesylt is a small village in Stranda Municipality in Møre og Romsdal county , Norway . The village lies at the head of the Sunnylvsfjorden , which is a branch of the Storfjorden , and which the more famous Geirangerfjorden in turn branches off nearby . The 0.44-square-kilometre ( 110-acre ) village has a population ( 2018 ) of 258 and a population density of 586 inhabitants per square kilometre ( 1,520/sq mi ) . There are several hundred other people living in the surrounding valley area as well . In the summertime , thousands of tourists travel through or stay in Hellesylt each day . Most of them take the ferry to the nearby village of Geiranger , which in high season runs every one and a half hours . There is also a cruise ship pier that can handle very large ships . The village is surrounded by mountains and valleys . The Sunnylven Church is located in Hellesylt , which was the administrative center of the former municipality of Sunnylven . Hellesylt is under constant threat from the mountain Åkerneset , which is about to erode into the Sunnylvsfjord . A collapse could cause a tsunami destroying most of downtown Hellesylt .
Cyclone Ulli ( also named Cyclone Emil by the Norwegian Meteorological Institute ) was an intense and deadly European windstorm . Forming on December 31 , 2011 off the coast of New Jersey , Ulli began a rapid strengthening phase on January 2 as it sped across the Atlantic . Ulli was the costliest disaster in January 2012 globally . The damage from the storm in Glasgow was also compared to a storm in 1968 . Ulli was one of many storms to affect Europe during the winter of 2011-2012 . The storm clustering began in late-November when Xaver and Yoda hit the United Kingdom and Norway . In early to mid-December , Friedhelm , Hergen and Joachim hit northern Europe . Another storm , Patrick hit Scandinavia on Christmas Day . Ulli was followed by Andrea which formed the next day and struck northern Europe on 5 January .
The Midwestern United States , also referred to as the American Midwest , Middle West , or simply the Midwest , is one of four census regions of the United States Census Bureau ( also known as Region 2 ) . It occupies the northern central part of the United States . It was officially named the North Central Region by the Census Bureau until 1984 . It is located between the Northeastern United States and the Western United States , with Canada to its north and the Southern United States to its south . The Census Bureau 's definition consists of 12 states in the north central United States : Illinois , Indiana , Iowa , Kansas , Michigan , Minnesota , Missouri , Nebraska , North Dakota , Ohio , South Dakota , and Wisconsin . The region generally lies on the broad Interior Plain between the states occupying the Appalachian Mountain range and the states occupying the Rocky Mountain range . Major rivers in the region include , from east to west , the Ohio River , the Upper Mississippi River , and the Missouri River . A 2012 report from the United States Census put the population of the Midwest at 65,377,684 . The Midwest is divided by the Census Bureau into two divisions . The East North Central Division includes Illinois , Indiana , Michigan , Ohio , and Wisconsin , all of which are also part of the Great Lakes region . The West North Central Division includes Iowa , Kansas , Minnesota , Missouri , North Dakota , Nebraska , and South Dakota , several of which are located , at least partly , within the Great Plains region . Chicago is the most populous city in the American Midwest and the third most populous in the entire country .
The Meteorological Office , abbreviated as the Met Office is the United Kingdom 's national weather service . It is an executive agency and trading fund of the Department for Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy led by CEO Penelope Endersby , who took on the role as Chief Executive in December 2018 , the first woman to do so . The Met Office makes meteorological predictions across all timescales from weather forecasts to climate change .
The Boxing Day Storm ( also called the Great Boxing Day Storm of 1998 or Hurricane Stephen ) was an Atlantic windstorm that made landfall in northwest Ireland . It peaked on Boxing Day , 26 December , which is celebrated as St. Stephen 's Day in Ireland .
Cyclone Andrea was an intense European windstorm that affected western and central Europe in early January 2012 .
The St. Jude storm , also known as Cyclone Christian , and other names , was a severe hurricane-force European windstorm that hit Northwestern Europe on 27 and 28 October 2013 causing at least 17 deaths . The highest windspeed was in Denmark , where a gust of 194.4 km/h ( 120.8 mph ) was recorded in the south of the country ( in Als ) on the afternoon of 28 October , the strongest wind recorded in the country 's history .
Jude , also known as Judas Thaddaeus ( Greek : Θαδδαῖος ; Coptic : ⲑⲁⲇⲇⲉⲟⲥ ; Syriac/Aramaic : ܝܗܘܕܐ ܫܠܝܚܐ ) , was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the New Testament . He is generally identified with Thaddeus , and is also variously called Jude of James , Jude Thaddaeus , Judas Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus . He is sometimes identified with Jude , the brother of Jesus , but is clearly distinguished from Judas Iscariot , the apostle who betrayed Jesus prior to his crucifixion . Catholic writer Michal Hunt suggests that Judas Thaddaeus became known as Jude after early translators of the New Testament from Greek into English sought to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot and subsequently abbreviated his forename . Most versions of the New Testament in languages other than English and French refer to Judas and Jude by the same name . The Armenian Apostolic Church honors Thaddeus along with Saint Bartholomew as its patron saints . In the Roman Catholic Church , he is the patron saint of desperate cases and lost causes . Saint Jude 's attribute is a club . He is also often shown in icons with a flame around his head . This represents his presence at Pentecost , when he received the Holy Spirit with the other apostles . Another common attribute is Jude holding an image of Jesus Christ , known as the Image of Edessa . In some instances , he may be shown with a scroll or a book ( the Epistle of Jude ) or holding a carpenter 's rule .
The Great Storm of 1987 was a violent extratropical cyclone that occurred on the night of 15-16 October , with hurricane-force winds causing casualties in England , France and the Channel Islands as a severe depression in the Bay of Biscay moved northeast . Among the most damaged areas were Greater London , the East Anglian coast , the Home Counties , the west of Brittany and the Cotentin Peninsula of Normandy , all of which weathered gusts typically with a return period of 1 in 200 years . Forests , parks , roads and railways were strewn with fallen trees as well as schools being closed . The British National Grid suffered heavy damage , leaving thousands without power . At least 22 people were killed in England and France . The highest measured gust of 117 kn ( 217 km/h ; 135 mph ) was recorded at Pointe Du Roc , Granville , France and the highest gust in the UK of 106 kn ( 196 km/h ; 122 mph ) was recorded at Gorleston-on-Sea . The storm has been termed a weather bomb due to its rapid development . That day 's weather reports had failed to indicate a storm of such severity , an earlier , correct forecast having been negated by later projections . The apparent suggestion by the BBC 's Michael Fish of a false alarm is celebrated as a classic gaffe , though he claims he was misquoted . As a result of this storm , major improvements were later implemented in atmospheric observation , relevant computer models , and the training of forecasters .
The Burns ' Day Storm ( also known as Cyclone Daria ) was an extremely violent windstorm that took place on 25-26 January 1990 over north-western Europe . It is one of the strongest European windstorms on record . This storm has received different names as there is no official list of such events in Europe . Starting on the birthday of Scottish poet Robert Burns , it caused widespread damage and hurricane-force winds over a wide area . The storm was responsible for 47 deaths ( according to the Met Office ) , although figures have ranged from 89 to over 100 across Europe . [ citation needed ]
2013 Nordic storms were a series of storms affecting predominantly the Nordic nations with other northern European nations also affected . The first storm in the series Hilde , named Otto by Free University of Berlin , and Eino in Finland was an extratropical cyclone affecting parts of northern Europe , causing disruption to electricity supplies and transportation across mid Norway , northern Sweden and central Finland during 15-18 November 2013 . The storm brought a new record average wind speed to Sweden ( at altitude ) , however wind speeds at lower altitudes were less than seen during Cyclone Dagmar of 2011 . Most damage was caused by falling trees along the storm 's path likely exacerbated by unfrozen ground . The total cost of damage is likely to be low , as the storm passed over relatively unpopulated regions of the Nordic nations .
2013 Nordic storms were a series of storms affecting predominantly the Nordic nations with other northern European nations also affected . The first storm in the series Hilde , named Otto by Free University of Berlin , and Eino in Finland was an extratropical cyclone affecting parts of northern Europe , causing disruption to electricity supplies and transportation across mid Norway , northern Sweden and central Finland during 15-18 November 2013 . The storm brought a new record average wind speed to Sweden ( at altitude ) , however wind speeds at lower altitudes were less than seen during Cyclone Dagmar of 2011 . Most damage was caused by falling trees along the storm 's path likely exacerbated by unfrozen ground . The total cost of damage is likely to be low , as the storm passed over relatively unpopulated regions of the Nordic nations .
Norrland ( Swedish : [ ˈnɔ̌rːland ] ( listen ) , Northland , originally Norrlanden or the Northlands ) is the northernmost , largest and least populated of the three traditional lands of Sweden , consisting of nine provinces . The term Norrland is not used for any administrative purpose , but as a historical region , it is common in everyday language , e.g. , in weather forecasts .
Oyndarfjørður ( Danish : Andefjord ) is a village on the northeastern coast of the Faroese island of Eysturoy in the Runavíkar municipality . The 2005 population was 180 . Its postal code is FO 690 . The town 's church dates from 1838 . It is famous for two rinkusteinar , or rocking stones , located in the sea nearby .
Eysturoy ( pronounced [ 'estroi ] ) ( Danish : Østerø ) meaning 'East Island ' is a region and the second-largest of the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic , both in size and population .
Mykines ( Danish : Myggenæs ) is the westernmost of the 18 main islands of the Faroese Archipelago . It lies west of 7.5 degrees W , effectively putting it in the UTC-1 region . However , Mykines uses Greenwich Mean Time like the rest of the Faroes . The only settlement on the island is also called Mykines .
Cyclone Xaver also known as the North Sea flood or tidal surge of 2013 , was a winter storm that affected northern Europe . Force 12 winds and heavy snowfall were predicted along the storm 's path , and there were warnings of a significant risk of storm surge leading to coastal flooding along the coasts of the North and Irish Seas .
2013-14 Atlantic winter storms in Europe were a series of winter storms affecting areas of Atlantic Europe and beyond . The French Atlantic coastal regions ( chiefly Brittany ) , South West and Southern England , West Wales , Ireland , Spanish Atlantic coastal regions ( particularly Galicia ) were especially affected by a conveyor belt series of high-precipitation storms ( mostly not exceptional for their winds ) and by high tides . Many storms were explosively deepened by a strong jet stream , many deepening below 950 hPa . The repeated formation of large deep lows over the Atlantic brought storm surges and large waves which coincided with some of the highest astronomical tides of the year and caused coastal damage . The low pressure areas brought heavy rainfalls which led to flooding , which became most severe over parts of England such as at the Somerset Levels . The repeated storms fit into a pattern of disturbed weather in the Northern Hemisphere , which saw from November 2013 a disturbance to the jet stream in the western Pacific , which propagated eastwards bringing a warm winter to Alaska , drought to California , and repeated cold air outbreaks to the eastern USA where the early 2014 North American cold wave resulted .
The River Trent is the third-longest river in the United Kingdom . Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor . It flows through and drains most of the metropolitan central and northern Midlands south and east of its source north of Stoke-on-Trent . The river is known for dramatic flooding after storms and spring snowmelt , which in past times often caused the river to change course . The river passes through Stoke-on-Trent , Burton upon Trent , Stone , Staffordshire , Rugeley and Nottingham before joining the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary , which empties into the North Sea between Hull in Yorkshire and Immingham in Lincolnshire . The course of the river has often been described as the boundary between the Midlands and the north of England .
Cyclone Dirk was a large and deep European windstorm that affected Western Europe from the Iberian Peninsula to Iceland from 22 December 2013 .
A weather front is a boundary separating two masses of air of different densities , and is the principal cause of meteorological phenomena outside the tropics . In surface weather analyses , fronts are depicted using various colored triangles and half-circles , depending on the type of front . The air masses separated by a front usually differ in temperature and humidity . Cold fronts may feature narrow bands of thunderstorms and severe weather , and may on occasion be preceded by squall lines or dry lines . Warm fronts are usually preceded by stratiform precipitation and fog . The weather usually clears quickly after a front 's passage . Some fronts produce no precipitation and little cloudiness , although there is invariably a wind shift . Cold fronts and occluded fronts generally move from west to east , while warm fronts move poleward . Because of the greater density of air in their wake , cold fronts and cold occlusions move faster than warm fronts and warm occlusions . Mountains and warm bodies of water can slow the movement of fronts . When a front becomes stationary - and the density contrast across the frontal boundary vanishes - the front can degenerate into a line which separates regions of differing wind velocity , known as a shearline . This is most common over the open ocean .
Cyclones Anne and Christina were a pair of winter storms that affected western Europe several days apart in early January 2014 . The storms brought storm surges along the coasts of France , Ireland and the United Kingdom on high spring tides a month after Cyclone Xaver brought surges during the previous peak tides to northern Europe .
Dawlish /ˈdɔːlɪʃ/ is an English seaside resort town and civil parish in Teignbridge on the south coast of Devon , 12 miles ( 19 km ) from the county town of Exeter and the larger resort of Torquay . Its population of 12,345 in 2001 rose to about 16,000 by 2018 , and was expected to grow strongly in coming years , as several large housing estates were under construction , mainly in the north and east of the town . It had grown in the 18th century from a small fishing port into a well-known seaside resort , as had its near neighbour , Teignmouth , in the 19th century .
The Exeter-Plymouth line , also called the South Devon Main Line , is a central part of the trunk railway line between London Paddington and Penzance in the southern United Kingdom . It is a major branch of the Great Western Main Line and runs from Exeter to Plymouth , from where it continues as the Cornish Main Line . It was one of the principal routes of the Great Western Railway which in 1948 became part of the Western Region of British Railways and are now part of the Network Rail system .
In the administrative divisions of France , the department ( French : département , pronounced [ depaʁt ( ə ) mɑ̃ ] ) is one of the three levels of government below the national level ( territorial collectivities ) , between the administrative regions and the commune . Ninety-five departments are in metropolitan France , and five are overseas departments , which are also classified as regions . Departments are further subdivided into 334 arrondissements , themselves divided into cantons ; the last two have no autonomy , and are used for the organisation of police , fire departments , and sometimes , elections . Each department is administered by an elected body called a departmental council ( conseil départemental [ sing . ] , conseils départementaux [ plur. ] ) . From 1800 to April 2015 , these were called general councils ( conseil général sing . conseils généraux [ plur. ] ) . Each council has a president . Their main areas of responsibility include the management of a number of social and welfare allowances , of junior high school ( collège ) buildings and technical staff , and local roads and school and rural buses , and a contribution to municipal infrastructures . Local services of the state administration are traditionally organised at departmental level , where the prefect represents the government ; however , regions have gained importance in this regard since the 2000s , with some department-level services merged into region-level services . The departments were created in 1790 as a rational replacement of Ancien Régime provinces with a view to strengthen national unity ; the title department is used to mean a part of a larger whole . Almost all of them were named after physical geographical features ( rivers , mountains , or coasts ) , rather than after historical or cultural territories which could have their own loyalties .
Brittany ( /ˈbrɪtəni/ ; French : Bretagne [ bʁətaɲ ] ( listen ) ; Breton : Breizh , pronounced [ bʁɛjs ] or [ bʁɛx ] ; Gallo : Bertaèyn [ bəʁtaɛɲ ] ) is a cultural region in the west of France , covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period of Roman occupation . It became an independent kingdom and then a duchy before being united with the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province governed as if it were a separate nation under the crown . Brittany has also been referred to as Less , Lesser or Little Britain ( as opposed to Great Britain , with which it shares an etymology ) . It is bordered by the English Channel to the north , Normandy to the northeast , Pays de la Loire to the southeast , the Bay of Biscay to the south , and the Celtic Sea and the Atlantic Ocean to the west . Its land area is 34,023 km² ( 13,136 sq mi ) . Brittany is the site of some of the world 's oldest standing architecture , home to the Barnenez , the Tumulus Saint-Michel and others , which date to the early 5th millennium BC . Today , the historical province of Brittany is split among five French departments : Finistère in the west , Côtes-d'Armor in the north , Ille-et-Vilaine in the northeast , Loire-Atlantique in the southeast and Morbihan in the south on the Bay of Biscay . Since reorganisation in 1956 , the modern administrative region of Brittany comprises only four of the five Breton departments , or 80% of historical Brittany . The remaining area of old Brittany , the Loire-Atlantique department around Nantes , now forms part of the Pays de la Loire region . At the 2010 census , the population of historic Brittany was estimated to be 4,475,295 . Of these , 71% lived in the region of Brittany , while 29% lived in the Loire-Atlantique department . In 2012 , the largest metropolitan areas were Nantes ( 897,713 inhabitants ) , Rennes ( 690,467 inhabitants ) , and Brest ( 314,844 inhabitants ) .
The Iberian Peninsula /aɪˈbɪəriən/ , [ a ] also known as Iberia , [ b ] is located in the southwest corner of the European continent . The peninsula is principally divided between Spain and Portugal , comprising most of their territory , as well as a small area of France ( the French Cerdagne ) , Andorra and the British overseas territory of Gibraltar . With an area of approximately 596,740 square kilometres ( 230,400 sq mi ) , and a population of roughly 53 million , it is the second largest European peninsula by area , after the Scandinavian Peninsula .
Cyclone Tini ( also referred to as Storm Darwin in Ireland ) was a European windstorm that affected Western Europe , particularly Ireland and the United Kingdom on 12 February 2014 . The storm brought Hurricane-force winds to Ireland and the UK with the Met Office and Met Éireann describing the storm as one of the most significant to affect Ireland , Wales and North West England in recent decades . Tini was one of the strongest storms of the 2013-2014 Atlantic winter storms in Europe , and also brought heavy rain across the UK and Ireland exacerbating the 2013-2014 United Kingdom winter floods , and may have been the most damaging storm of the period . The arrival of the storm coincided with what would have been Charles Darwin 's 205th birthday , earning the storm the name Darwin , particularly in Ireland .
The Norwegian Sea ( Norwegian : Norskehavet ) is a marginal sea in the Arctic Ocean , northwest of Norway between the North Sea and the Greenland Sea , adjoining the Barents Sea to the northeast . In the southwest , it is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by a submarine ridge running between Iceland and the Faroe Islands . To the north , the Jan Mayen Ridge separates it from the Greenland Sea . Unlike many other seas , most of the bottom of the Norwegian Sea is not part of a continental shelf and therefore lies at a great depth of about two kilometres on average . Rich deposits of oil and natural gas are found under the sea bottom and are being explored commercially , in the areas with sea depths of up to about one kilometre . The coastal zones are rich in fish that visit the Norwegian Sea from the North Atlantic or from the Barents Sea ( cod ) for spawning . The warm North Atlantic Current ensures relatively stable and high water temperatures , so that unlike the Arctic seas , the Norwegian Sea is ice-free throughout the year . Recent research has concluded that the large volume of water in the Norwegian Sea with its large heat absorption capacity is more important as a source of Norway 's mild winters than the Gulf Stream and its extensions .
The Barents Sea ( /ˈbærənts/ BARR-ənts , also US : /ˈbɑːrənts/ BAR-ənts ; Norwegian : Barentshavet , Urban East Norwegian : [ ˈbɑ̀ːrəntsˌhɑːvə ] ; Russian : Баренцево море , romanized : Barentsevo More ) is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean , located off the northern coasts of Norway and Russia and divided between Norwegian and Russian territorial waters . Known among Russians in the Middle Ages as the Murman Sea ( Norwegian Sea ) , the current name of the sea is after the historical Dutch navigator Willem Barentsz . This is a rather shallow shelf sea , with an average depth of 230 metres ( 750 ft ) , and it is an important site for both fishing and hydrocarbon exploration . The Barents Sea is bordered by the Kola Peninsula to the south , the shelf edge towards the Norwegian Sea to the west , and the archipelagos of Svalbard to the northwest , Franz Josef Land to the northeast and Novaya Zemlya to the east . The islands of Novaya Zemlya , an extension of the northern end of the Ural Mountains , separate the Barents Sea from the Kara Sea . Although part of the Arctic Ocean , the Barents Sea has been characterised as turning into the Atlantic because of its status as the Arctic warming hot spot . Hydrologic changes due to global warming have led to a reduction in sea ice and in stratification of the water column , which could produce major changes in weather in Eurasia .
Hordaland ( Urban East Norwegian : [ ˈhɔ̂rdɑlɑn ] ( listen ) ) was a county in Norway , bordering Sogn og Fjordane , Buskerud , Telemark , and Rogaland counties . Hordaland was the third largest county after Akershus and Oslo by population . The county government was the Hordaland County Municipality which is located in Bergen . Before 1972 , the city of Bergen was its own separate county apart from Hordaland . On 1 January 2020 , the county was merged with neighbouring Sogn og Fjordane county to form the new Vestland county .
Kråkenes Lighthouse ( Norwegian : Kråkenes fyr ) is a coastal lighthouse in Kinn Municipality in Vestland , Norway . It is located on a rocky , knife-like promontory jutting out of the northwestern tip of the island of Vågsøy .