Storm Alex
Type | Extratropical cyclone European windstorm |
---|---|
Formed | 30 September 2020 |
Dissipated | 3 October 2020 |
Highest gust | 116 mph (187 km/h) at Belle-Île, France |
Lowest pressure | 969 mb (28.61 inHg) |
Casualties | 16 fatalities |
Power outages | 115,000 |
Areas affected | United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic |
Part of the 2020–21 European windstorm season |
Storm Alex was a powerful early-season extratropical cyclone that was the particularly notable for its extreme flooding around the Mediterranean. Alex caused widespread wind and flooding damage across Europe, and at least 16 fatalities, with a one more 1 person missing. Alex was the first named storm in the 2020–21 European windstorm season.
Originally, a minor low-pressure system to the south west of Greenland late on 27 September.[1] This pressure system tracked south eastwards, experiencing the Fujiwhara effect and then undergoing explosive cyclogenesis before making landfall in Brittany on 1 October. It was named by AEMET and Météo-France on 30 September, with Red warnings being issued for wind for parts of Northern France from 16:00 CET on 1 October.[2]
The storm led to advection of Mediterranean air northwards where it interacted with the coastal topography producing an extremely heavy rainfall in southeast France, known as a "Mediterranean Episode". This brought record breaking flooding and devastation to many areas in the region.[3]
The flooding in the south of France was purportedly the worst for at least 120 years, when records began.[4]
Preparations and impact[]
United Kingdom[]
Many warnings were issued for the storm by UK Met Office. The first being issued for 30 September for heavy rain across south west Scotland. This was a yellow warning, stating the possibility of localised flooding.[5] Further warnings were issued in the following days. Daily rainfall records were broken for many places. The highest fall reported as of 21:00 BST, the Met Office reported the maximum rainfall total to be 78 millimetres (3.1 in) at Liss, Hampshire, with the maximum gust of 71 mph (114 km/h) being recorded at Berry Head, Devon.[6]
Warnings[]
Warning severity | Event | Date | Areas affected |
---|---|---|---|
Amber | Rain | 3 October | North Wales, South East Wales, South West England |
Amber | Rain | 3 October | North East Scotland |
Yellow | Rain and Wind | 2 October | South West England |
Yellow | Rain and Wind | 3 October | South Wales, Southern England |
Yellow | Rain | 3 October | South East England |
France[]
Departments in the south of France were particularly badly affected, with record breaking flooding and landslides. At least 5 people died.[7]
See also[]
- Storm Gloria (2020)
- Storm Ciara (2020)
- Storm Dennis (2020)
References[]
- ^ "Sun, 27 Sep 2020". Wetterzentrale.de. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
- ^ Météo-France [@VigiMeteoFrance] (1 October 2020). "1 dpt en #vigilanceRouge ; 8 dpts en #vigilanceOrange" (Tweet) (in French). Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ @WMO (6 October 2020). "500 mm of rain fell in southern France on Fri-Sat during a "Mediterranean episode" triggered by #StormAlex" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "2 missing after worst rainfall in 120 years triggers flash flooding in southern France". The Watchers. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ Met Office [@metoffice] (30 September 2020). "Yellow Warning issued Rain across parts of southwest Scotland Wednesday 0300-1200 Latest info Stay #WeatherAware" (Tweet). Retrieved 9 October 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ Met Office [@metoffice] (2 October 2020). "Here are the UK top #rainfall totals and #wind gusts from #StormAlex Today's warning has now expired as Alex pulls away. However, further #wet and #windy weather is expected overnight and through much of the #weekend Stay #WeatherAware Warning" (Tweet). Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Storm Alex: Floods and landslides hit France and Italy". BBC News. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
External links[]
- 2020 meteorology
- 2020 natural disasters
- Weather events in the United Kingdom
- European windstorms
- 2020 disasters in the United Kingdom
- 2020 in Ireland
- February 2020 events in Europe
- February 2020 events in the United Kingdom
- Floods in Ireland
- Weather events in Ireland
- Storms
- Floods in the United Kingdom