The approaching low is expected to hit the French coast with winds of up to 170 kilometers per hour.

Posted On: November 1, 2023

According to the German Weather Service (DWD), the hurricane depression approaching the French Atlantic coast and the English Channel will only reach Germany in a very weakened form. On Thursday there could be thunderstorms from the North Sea to the Saarland, via lower altitude areas and in the mountains, the DWD in Offenbach announced on Wednesday.

Hurricane “Emir”, known internationally as “Ciarán”, is expected to hit the French and southern English Atlantic coasts starting Wednesday night with winds of up to 170 kilometers per hour. Storm and hurricane gusts of up to 120 kilometers per hour are also possible on the Belgian and Dutch North Sea coast.

Ferry company Condor has canceled its passenger and freight services between the Channel Islands and Britain for Wednesday and Thursday. The company DFDS canceled trips between Dieppe in France and Newhaven in England.

There is danger to life.

Britain’s Met Office weather service warned Thursday of danger to life from flying debris, covered roofs, downed power lines and falling trees. Coastal areas in the south-west and south-east of England are particularly affected.

Given the approach of the storm, France restricts traffic in some areas. Breton Brest Airport is scheduled to temporarily close from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning. Regional train services in the regions of Brittany, Normandy, Pays de la Loire, Hauts-de-France and Center Val de Loire will also be partially suspended from Wednesday evening and Thursday.

In Germany, the DWD expects gusts of up to 85 kilometers per hour, especially at high altitudes and on the North Sea coast, and up to 100 kilometers per hour in Brocken in the Harz massif.

Otherwise, according to the DWD, the following applies in Germany: “November continues where October ended,” said DWD meteorologist Tobias Reinartz. «The basses literally give control to each other. Therefore, until further notice the weather will be mostly cloudy, unstable, sometimes windy and quite mild. The maximum values on Thursday will be 10 to 16 degrees Celsius.