Storm Alex

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.

Storm Alex
Storm Alex making landfall in Brittany at peak intensity on 2 October
TypeExtratropical cyclone
European windstorm
Formed30 September 2020 (2020-09-30)
Dissipated3 October 2020 (2020-10-03)
Lowest pressure969 mb (28.61 inHg)
Highest gust116 mph (187 km/h) at Belle-Île, France
Power outages115,000
Casualties16 fatalities
Areas affectedUnited Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic

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 Fujiwara effect and then undergoing explosive cyclogenesis before making landfall in Brittany on 1 October. It was named by AEMET and Meteo 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 a 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 severityEventDateAreas affected
AmberRain3 OctoberNorth Wales, South East Wales, South West England
AmberRain3 OctoberNorth East Scotland
YellowRain and Wind2 OctoberSouth West England
YellowRain and Wind3 OctoberSouth Wales, Southern England
YellowRain3 OctoberSouth East England

France
Sediment plumes in the Mediterranean Sea following devastating flooding in SE France linked to storm Alex

Departments in the south of France were particularly badly affected, with record breaking flooding and landslides. At least 5 people died. [7]

See also

References
  1. "Sun, 27 Sep 2020". Wetterzentrale.de. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  2. Météo-France [@VigiMeteoFrance] (1 October 2020). "1 dpt en #vigilanceRouge ; 8 dpts en #vigilanceOrange" (Tweet) (in French). Retrieved 3 October 2020 – via Twitter.
  3. @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.
  4. "2 missing after worst rainfall in 120 years triggers flash flooding in southern France". The Watchers - Daily news service | Watchers.NEWS. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  5. 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.
  6. 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.
  7. "Storm Alex: Floods and landslides hit France and Italy". BBC News. 4 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
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