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2018–19 European windstorm season

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2018–19 European windstorm season
First storm formed16 September 2018
Last storm dissipatedSeason ongoing
Strongest storm1Helene (990 mbar)
Strongest wind gustHelene (70 miles per hour (110 km/h))
Total storms2
Total damageMinimal
Total fatalities0
1Strongest storm is determined by lowest pressure and maximum recorded non-mountainous wind gust is also included for reference.

The 2018–19 European windstorm season is the fourth instance of seasonal European windstorm naming in Europe. The season officially runs between 1 July 2018 and 30 June 2019, although most storms form between September and March. The first named storm, Helene – a former Atlantic hurricane – formed on 16 September.

Background and naming

Main article: Winter storm naming in the United Kingdom and Ireland

In 2015, the Met Office and Met Éireann announced a pilot project to name storm warnings as part of the Name our Storms project for wind storms and asked the public for suggestions. The meteorological offices produced a full list of names for 2015–16 through to 2017–18, common to both the UK and Ireland. A new list of names was released on 11 September 2018 for the 2018–19 season.[1][2] Names in the UK will be based on the National Severe Weather Warning Service, when a storm is assessed to have the potential for an Amber 'be prepared' or Red 'take action (danger to life)' warning.

There are two main naming lists, created by the national meteorological agencies of the United Kingdom and Ireland, and France, Spain and Portugal respectively. Additionally, former Atlantic hurricanes will retain their names as assigned by the National Hurricane Center of the United States, as happened with Storm Helene in September.

United Kingdom and Ireland

  • Ali (active) (18 September–)
  • Bronagh (unused)
  • Callum (unused)
  • Dierdre (unused)
  • Erik (unused)
  • Freya (unused)
  • Gareth (unused)
  • Hannah (unused)
  • Idris (unused)
  • Jane (unused)
  • Kevin (unused)
  • Lily (unused)
  • Max (unused)
  • Niamh (unused)
  • Oliver (unused)
  • Peggy (unused)
  • Ross (unused)
  • Saoirse (unused)
  • Tristan (unused)
  • Violet (unused)
  • Wyn (unused)

France, Spain and Portugal

This will be the second year in which the meteorological agencies of France, Spain and Portugal will be naming storms which affect their areas. This naming scheme is partially overlapping with that used by the UK and Ireland, as storms named by the the other group of agencies will be used reciprocally.[3]

  • Adrian (unused)
  • Beatriz (unused)
  • Carlos (unused)
  • Diana (unused)
  • Etienne (unused)
  • Flora (unused)
  • Gabriel (unused)
  • Helena (unused)
  • Isiah (unused)
  • Julia (unused)
  • Kyllian (unused)
  • Laura (unused)
  • Miguel (unused)
  • Nicole (unused)
  • Oscar (unused)
  • Patricia (unused)
  • Roberto (unused)
  • Sara (unused)
  • Teo (unused)
  • Vanessa (unused)
  • Walid (unused)

Additionally to these naming systems the Free University of Berlin also names high and low pressure areas through its "Adopt a vortex" programme. The Nordic nations of Denmark, Norway and Sweden also name storms with more limited reciprocation.[4] Other nations may also name storms either through their national meteorological institutions or popularly.

Season summary

Storm Ali (2018)Storm Helene (2018)

The season began on 16 September with the naming of Storm Helene, a former Atlantic hurricane, by the Met Office and Met Eireann; however, as it weakened considerably while approaching the British Isles, all warnings for Helene were discontinued on 18 September. Later that day, the second storm of the season, Storm Ali, was named by the Met Office and Met Eireann with the issuance of amber wind warnings for the following day.

Storms

Storm Helene

See also: 2018 Atlantic hurricane season § Hurricane Helene
Helene
Area affectedPortugal, Spain, Ireland, United Kingdom
Date of impact16–18 September
Maximum wind gust70 miles per hour (110 km/h), Bealach na Bà, Scotland[5]
Lowest pressure990 mbar (while extratropical)
Fatalities0
Power outagesNone
DamageMinimal

While still a tropical cyclone, Hurricane Helene affected the Azores from 15–16 September. The system subsequently completed an extratropical transition on 16 September as it accelerated north-eastwards towards the British Isles, with the outer bands of Storm Helene causing minimal impacts in north-western Spain and Portugal.

Storm Helene crossed the the UK and Ireland on 17–18 September, with the Met Office and Met Eireann issuing yellow wind warnings.[6] [7] The Met Office's yellow warning of wind covered southern England, the the Midlands and Wales overnight from 17–18 September, with forecasts predicting winds of up to 60 to 70 mph.

Helene was downgraded as it approached the British Isles, with winds gusting to only 40 to 50 mph in isolated locations; as a result, all warnings were cancelled on 18 September as Helene was still crossing the United Kingdom.

Storm Ali

Ali
Date of impact18 September –

Storm Ali was named on the 18 September by Met Éireann and Met Office issuing Amber warnings for wind. It is expected to lash through Ireland and Scotland on Wednesday with up to 80mph winds.

[8][9]

Season effects

Storm Dates active Highest wind gust Lowest pressure Casualties Damages Affected areas
Helene 16 – 18 September 70 mph / 100 km/h 990 mbar 0 Minimal Portugal, Spain, Ireland, United Kingdom
Ali 18 September - currently active Unknown Unknown 0 None None
2 windstorms 16 September – currently active 70 mph / 100 km/h 990 mbar 0 Minimal

Co-ordination of storms named by European meteorological services

2018–19 named storms table
Helene (NHC/UK/IE); Ex-Helene (FUB)
Ali (UK/IE); Dorcas (FUB)

References

  1. ^ "Storm names for 2018–19 announced". Met Office. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  2. ^ "Storm Names 2018–19 Announced". www.met.ie. Met Éireann. 11 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Les listes des noms de tempêtes 2018–2019 rendues publiques" (in French). Météo France. 12 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  4. ^ "Las listas de los nombres de borrascas para 2018-2019 - Revista del Aficionado a la Meteorología". Revista del Aficionado a la Meteorología (in European Spanish). 13 September 2018. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  5. ^ https://www.weatheronline.co.uk/weather/maps/current?LANG=en&CONT=euro&LAND=UK&KEY=UK&SORT=3&UD=0&INT=06&TYP=windspitzen&ART=tabelle&RUBRIK=akt&R=310&CEL=C&SI=mph
  6. ^ "Met Éireann briefing on Ex Tropical Storm Helene 4pm Monday 17th September - Met Éireann - The Irish Meteorological Service". www.met.ie. Met Éireann. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  7. ^ "Will Tropical Storm Helene affect the UK?". Met Office. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  8. ^ @MetEireann (18 September 2018). "Status Orange - Wind warning for Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare and Kerry" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ^ "BBC Weather - UK Warnings". BBC Weather. 18 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
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