Northern Europe: Disruptions reported across parts of region following Storm Eunice; further adverse weather forecast across parts of region through Feb. 21 /update 4

Event

Authorities continue to respond to lingering disruptions across parts of northern Europe as of Feb. 20 following the passage of Storm Eunice. Response efforts are likely to be hampered by further adverse weather that is forecast to affect parts of the region through at least Feb. 21. Storm Eunice, named Zeynep in Germany, left at least 16 people dead across northern Europe and caused mass power outages and transport disruptions after moving across Ireland and the UK Feb. 18 and into northern continental Europe Feb. 18-19. Another storm, named Franklin by Met Eireann and the UK Met Office, will follow a similar path; the system is forecast to impact Ireland and the UK Feb. 20-21 and then move across the North Sea coast of northern continental Europe Feb. 21.

Storm Eunice caused four deaths in the Netherlands, four in Poland, three in the UK, two in Belgium, two in Germany, and one in Ireland. As of Feb. 20, more than 75,000 homes across the UK remained without power; some 1.4 million homes were affected by power outages during the passing of Eunice Feb. 18. Flights and rail services were disrupted across southern Wales and southern England. In Ireland, thousands were left without power by the storm, several roads were blocked by fallen trees in the south of the country, and flights were disrupted at many airports.

As of Feb. 19, over 1 million people in Poland were without power following the storm. Long-distance and regional rail services were suspended in northern Germany Feb. 19 and over 1,000 km (621 miles) of track have been damaged, meaning lingering rail disruptions are likely to continue in the coming days. Rail services were suspended across the Netherlands Feb. 18 and schools were closed. National carrier KLM (KL) canceled around 170 flights at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS).

As of Feb. 20, the respective meteorological services for the affected countries have issued the following weather warnings:

Belgian Royal Meteorological Institute (RMI):

Orange wind warnings (the middle level on a three-tier scale): coastal Flanders.
Yellow wind warnings: across the rest of Belgium.
Yellow rain warnings: across eastern Belgium.
Yellow ice or snow warnings: across southeastern Belgium.
Yellow storm surge warnings: across all coastal regions.

German Weather Service (DWD):

Purple wind warning (the highest level on a four-tier scale): Harz Mountains in Saxony-Anhalt State.
Red wind warnings: for parts of northeastern, central, western, eastern, southwestern, and far southern Germany.
Orange wind warnings: across the rest of Germany.
Orange heavy rainfall warnings: across parts of eastern and central Germany.

Met Eireann:

Orange wind warnings (the middle level on a three-tier scale): Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, and Sligo counties.
Yellow wind warnings: across Ireland.

Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI):

Orange wind warnings (the middle level on a three-tier scale): North Holland, South Holland, and Zeeland provinces, as well as IJsselmeer coastal region.
Yellow wind warnings: across the rest of the Netherlands.

Polish Institute of Meteorology and Water Management (IMGW-PIB):

Orange strong wind warnings (the middle level on a three-tier scale): across far northern Poland.
Yellow strong wind warnings: across the rest of Poland.

UK Met Office:

Amber wind warnings (the middle level on a three-tier scale): across northern parts of Northern Ireland.
Yellow wind warnings: across all of Wales and Northern Ireland, as well as southern, central, and northwestern England and western and southwestern Scotland.

Officials could update and possibly extend the coverage of weather alerts over the coming days.

Hazardous Conditions
The storms could produce rounds of heavy precipitation (including rain and snow), strong winds, and isolated thunderstorm activity. Where precipitation falls as rain, flash and areal flooding is possible. Such flooding is especially possible in low-lying communities near watercourses and other large bodies of water, as well as in urban areas with easily overwhelmed stormwater drainage systems. Sites located downstream of large reservoirs may be subject to flash flooding after relatively short periods of intense rainfall.

Precipitation could fall as snow in higher elevations over the coming days. Wind gusts could cause blowing and drifting snow; decreased visibility is likely in mountainous areas. Rain-induced landslides are possible in areas of elevated terrain; there is also the possibility of avalanches in mountainous areas where the snowpack has become unstable due to heavy snowfall. Power outages could occur throughout affected areas.

Transport
Floodwaters and related debris may render some bridges, rail networks, or roadways impassable, impacting overland travel in and around affected areas. Flooding in urban areas could also result in significant traffic congestion. Heavy snowfall would likely make driving hazardous in some areas; authorities could implement temporary road closures or detours in such locations. Mountain passes and tunnels could be closed as a precautionary measure during periods of intense snowfall.

The disruptive weather could cause some delays and cancellations at airports across the affected countries. Authorities may temporarily suspend port operations along the North Sea and Baltic coasts if strong winds trigger hazardous sea conditions, impacting freight and passenger maritime traffic. Flooding or heavy snow could block regional rail lines; freight and passenger train delays and cancellations are possible in areas that see heavy rainfall and track blockages.

Disruptions triggered by inclement weather and resultant hazards, such as flooding or avalanches, could persist well after weather conditions have improved; it could take days before any floodwaters recede and/or officials clear debris. If there is severe damage to infrastructure, repair or reconstruction efforts may result in residual disruptions.

Advice

Monitor local media for weather-related updates and advisories. Confirm all transport reservations and business arrangements before traveling in affected areas. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving or routing shipments through areas where severe weather is forecast; plan for possible supply chain disruptions throughout the affected areas. Stay away from streams, creeks, and other watercourses that are prone to flash flooding. Do not attempt to navigate flooded roadways. Exercise caution in elevated terrain due to the threat of landslides, as well as in mountainous regions where avalanches pose a threat. Charge battery-powered devices in the case of prolonged electricity outages.