2025–26 European windstorm season
The 2025–26 European windstorm season marks the eleventh year of the continents coordinated of severe weather naming programme. While the official list of names was unveiled on 1 September 2025, the season’s duration typically spans from the start of September through to 31 August, with the exception of the Eastern Mediterranean group, which the season begins on 1 October.
This year represents the seventh season of collaboration within the Western Group, where the Netherlands Koninklijk Nederlands Meteorologisch Instituut works alongside the UK’s Met Office and Ireland’s Met Éireann. To the south-west, the national meteorological agencies of Portugal, Spain, France, and Belgium have united for their ninth year of partnership, joined for the first time by Luxembourg.
The Mediterranean regions have also entered their fifth year of formal naming. This includes the Eastern Mediterranean group—comprising Greece, Israel, and Cyprus—and the Central Mediterranean group, which includes Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Malta. Furthermore, a significant change occurred on 1 January 2026, when the Northern Group, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, adopted a predetermined list of names for the first time.
Background and naming
Definitions and naming conventions
There is no universal definition of what constitutes a windstorm in Europe, nor is there a universal system of naming storms.In the western group, consisting of the UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands, a storm is named if one of those meteorological agencies issues an orange warning, which generally requires a likelihood of widespread sustained wind speeds greater than, or widespread wind gust speeds over. Required speeds vary slightly by agency and by season. Likelihood of on-land human impacts and inherent severity of the system are further factors in whether to use the next pre-listed name.
The south-western group conducts its own naming. They typically name a storm if it prompts the issuance of an orange warning, usually for wind, rain or in some cases snow.
For Greece to call upon the next name of its group, the criteria are when forecast winds are above over land plus expected to impact infrastructure significantly. For Denmark to do so, a windstorm must have an hourly average wind speed of at least.
The Meteorology Department of the Free University of Berlin names all high and low-pressure systems that affect Europe, though they do not assign names to any actual storms. A windstorm that is associated with one of these pressure systems is sometimes recognized by the name given to the associated pressure system by the FUB. Named windstorms that have been recognized by a European meteorological agency are described in this article.
Invoking the next listed name in Europe is commonly by a storm's forecast conditions in the next day or so – as public awareness and preparedness are often cited as the main purpose. A nascent storm very occasionally does not become or remain a storm when reaching the forecasting authority.
Western group (United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands)
These following names were chosen for this storm season by the western group.South-western group (France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium and Luxembourg)
These following names were chosen for this storm season by the south-western group.Central Mediterranean group (Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Malta)
These following names were chosen for this storm season by the Central Mediterranean group.Eastern Mediterranean group (Greece, Israel and Cyprus)
The Eastern Mediterranean group works slightly differently compared to other naming lists, instead of ending a season on 31 August of that year, they end the season on 30 September of that year. These are the names that were chosen for the 2025–26 season in Greece, Israel and Cyprus:Northern group (Denmark, Norway and Sweden)
Much like the naming system used by the Free University of Berlin, this group did not use a pre-set list prior to 2026, instead naming storms as they occurred. Starting in 2026, the northern group established a unified list shared among its member countries. Storm Johannes serves as the final storm to be named independently under the old system.- Johannes
Central/FUB naming group (Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary)
Like the northern group, the Free University of Berlin names storms based on low pressures across the continent and does not use a naming list. The critical new criterion for FUB inclusion is that the storm must prompt a widespread orange weather warning or greater across the affected Central, NE, or SE regions of Europe.- Lothar
- Wolfgang
- Nils
- Roman
- Patricia
Atlantic ex-tropical cyclones
Ex-tropical cyclones that directly impacted a European country from the 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season or the 2026 Atlantic Hurricane Season which became a European windstorm and retained its name as assigned by the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida.- Gabrielle (2025)|Gabrielle]
Season summary
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from:01/08/2026 till:31/08/2026 text:August
Storms
Storm Alessio (Calvin)
Date named and backgroundNamed on 22 September 2025 by the Italian Servizio Meteorologico and Calvin by Free University of Berlin, Alessio was the first named storm of the season for the central Mediterranean group. The system impacted Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Slovenia, and Croatia. Though it maintained a relatively high central pressure, it was responsible for at least two fatalities during its passage.
Weather warnings issued
Servizio Meteorologico, issued red rain warnings for the regions of Piemonte, Toscana and Lazio. With orange rain warnings being issued for Veneto, Lombardia and Liguria. AEMET issued orange warnings for heavy rain and thunderstorm for parts of Balearic Islands.
Storm impacts
Two fatalities were reported during the storm in Spain. The bodies of a father and his 11-year-old son were found after they were swept away by flash flooding on 21 September.
Ex-Hurricane Gabrielle
Date named and backgroundHurricane Gabrielle, named by the National Hurricane Center, formed in the main development region of the Atlantic Ocean on 17 September. It peaked as a powerful Category 4 hurricane east of Bermuda. The system then began to accelerate as it approached the Azores archipelago. Gabrielle gradually weakened, and became extratropical a few hundred nautical miles west-southwest of the Azores on 25 September. The storm traversed the Azores then slowed, and moved over the Western Iberian Peninsula on 28 September where it opened up into a trough late that day.
Weather warnings issued
A hurricane watch was issued for the Azores on 22 September. The watch was upgraded to a warning on 24 September. The IPMA issued orange and yellow alerts for all of the Azores. Flores and Corvo were placed under a red alert for precipitation. Terceira, Faial, Pico, São Jorge, and Graciosa were placed under a red alert for wind and rough seas. Orange alerts were eventually issued for the eastern islands.
As Ex-Gabrielle impact the Iberian Peninsula, red alerts for rain has been issued for eastern parts of Spain and of precipitation was expected to fall within 24 hours.
Storm impacts
Schools and government buildings in the central and western Azores were closed for Gabrielle. Ports in Madalena, Lajes, and Horta were closed. Flight plans were interrupted from 25 to 27 September in the Azores. This unusual event had prompted officials to urge residents and visitors to take all necessary precautions as the storm approached the islands.
Storm Amy (Detlef)
Date named and backgroundAmy, known as Detlef in Germany was the first storm named by the western group on 1 October. A powerful "weather bomb," it reached a peak intensity of 942 hPa and produced a 139 mph gust at Folgefonna, Norway. The storm caused widespread damage and four deaths across France, Ireland, and Poland. Over 832,000 homes lost power across Northern Europe, with Sweden reporting its worst outages since 2019.,
Weather warnings issued
Chief Meteorologist Tom Crabtree says, the system would bring gale-force winds across northern and island areas of Scotland, with gusts widely reaching inland in the Caithness, Sutherland, and Hebrides areas, and potentially reaching in places. A yellow rain warning was in force for western and central parts of Scotland as of rain was expected widely in a 6–9 hour period with over some hilly areas in the Southwest and the Southern Highlands. Accompanying this was a large yellow wind warning for Scotland, which was upgraded to an Amber warning in northwestern parts of Scotland as well as western parts of Northern Ireland. A yellow wind warning from northern and western England, stretching down to north Wales, was in force with another wind warning in force for Northern Ireland, an area where winds where expected widely with and above expected in exposed areas. A yellow wind warning was later issued, covering the rest of south-west, central, southern, south-eastern and eastern England, as well as southern Wales, with gusts of possible in places, and perhaps along some exposed coasts.
For Ireland a yellow wind warning was in place for the whole country, with the main cause for concern for Met Éireann being difficult travelling conditions, debris and loose objects displaced, and some fallen trees possible. A man in his forties died in the town of Letterkenny in County Donegal around 16:15 on October 3.
For parts of southern and western Norway, red-severity warnings for extremely strong wind gusts along the Skagerrak coast and extremely heavy rain in parts of Telemark and Vestfold. Widespread orange-severity warnings were also in effect for very strong winds, very heavy rain, flooding, and the potential for debris avalanches and debris flows across various parts of the region. These will result in an expected high risk of cancelled flights, ferries and other transport disruptions.
Danish Meteorological Institute issued warnings for high winds, heavy rain, and elevated water levels this weekend due to Storm Amy. Gale-force to stormy-gale winds, with hurricane-force gusts possible, were expected sweep the region, mainly on Jutland's coasts. Simultaneously, widespread heavy rain is expected Saturday, potentially dropping in some spots. High water levels up to were anticipated in the Wadden Sea and along the west coast of Jutland.
Storm impacts
In France two people have died due to the storm, the first one drowned and the second got killed in his car with a collapsed tree and second person was injured.
In Scotland, a gust of was recorded on Tiree whilst power cuts were reported in the Highlands. In Glasgow, a derelict building collapsed onto a car amid high winds on Broomielaw, forcing the road to close. A train travelling between Aberdeen and Inverurie hit a fallen tree, leaving around a dozen passengers stranded on the train. The Forth Road Bridge was closed, whilst high-sided vehicles were expected to be prevented from crossing the Clackmannanshire Bridge, Kincardine Bridge, Tyne Bridge and possibly the Queensferry Crossing. The Highland, Kyle, West Highland and Wick railway lines were closed and speed restrictions were placed on all Scottish routes, whilst many ferries from Cairnryan Harbour to Northern Ireland were cancelled.
In Wales, around 600 properties lost power in Carmarthenshire and the Severn Bridge was closed in both directions. A fallen tree near Gobowen forced rail services to be suspended between Shrewsbury and Wrexham.
Storm Barbara
Date named and backgroundPart of the central Mediterranean group's list, Storm Barbara followed shortly after Amy. It brought unsettled weather to the Mediterranean basin, particularly affecting Italy and the Balkan Peninsula, contributing to the season's early total of fatalities.
Weather warnings issued
Italy had orange wind warnings for the east coast south and not including San Marino to the heel of Italy. Further afield, red wind warnings were in force for the Velebit channel region of Croatia as well as orange rain warnings for surrounding inland parts of the country. Orange rain and wind warnings were in force for most areas in Montenegro. Elsewhere, yellow rain warnings were inforce for parts of Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.
Orange rain warnings were put up for Bulgaria, with the east of the country having red rain warnings as well as south-eastern Romania. Red rain warnings were also inforce for parts of Romania, Moldova and south-western Ukraine.
Storm impacts
The system brought record-breaking rainfall to Romania and Greece. Bucharest recorded its wettest October day in history during this event.
Storm Alice
Date named and backgroundAlice, named on the 7 October 2025 was the first name used from the south-western group's list for the 2025–26 season. The system targeted the Iberian Peninsula, bringing heavy rain and wind to Portugal and Spain. A very small and weak area of low pressure known locally as a DANA.
Weather warnings issued
Alice was a very small and weak area of low pressure that formed over the Iberian Peninsula near the Strait of Gibraltar that prompted the AEMET to issue amber and yellow warnings for rain for the southern Balearic Islands and eastern Spain. On the morning of 10 October, Spain issued an 'extreme risk' red weather warning for rain and flooding in Alicante and Murcia, Spain.
Storm impacts
It caused widespread flooding, with flights cancelled into Murcia.
Storm Benjamin (Joshua)
Date named and backgroundNamed by Météo-France on 22 October, Benjamin, known as Joshua by the FUB was a significant system that affected a broad area from France and Spain to the UK and Norway. It attained a minimum pressure of 969 hPa and produced wind gusts up to 100 mph. The storm caused notable travel disruptions and structural damage across Western Europe.
Weather warnings issued
Met Office issued yellow warnings for rain and wind across many parts of Southern England and Wales. Météo-France placed orange warnings for wind, wave and rain-flood. Belgium and the Netherlands also issued orange wind warnings for coastal areas. AEMET issued a red alert for stormy seas for sections of the northern Spanish coast.
Storm impacts
The storm resulted in one fatality and hundreds of millions of euros in insured losses. In France, wind gusts peaking at 104 mph caused over 140,000 households to lose power, while a 45-year-old tourist was swept away by a river in Corsica. Additionally, 16 people were injured across the Charente-Maritime and Gironde departments. Travel across the continent was crippled, with Amsterdam Schiphol Airport cancelling more than 200 flights and London Heathrow reporting dozens of cancellations. The aviation disruption affected over 32,000 passengers at Schiphol alone, as safety protocols restricted operations to a single runway. In the Netherlands and the UK, fallen trees and downed power lines halted train services between major cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and London, while ferry crossings in the English Channel were suspended due to treacherous maritime conditions. Infrastructure damage was extensive, with local flooding submerged roadways and coastal erosion damaging tourist sites like the Dune du Pilat. In the UK, more than 2,000 homes lost power, and heavy rainfall led to over a dozen rivers overflowing their banks, causing localised flooding in eastern and southern counties. As the storm system moved toward the North Sea, it pulled in a mass of Arctic air that resulted in a sharp temperature crash and the season's first significant snowfall in the Scottish Highlands.
A tornado north of Paris in Val-d’Oise on October 20, days before Benjamin, is not related to the storm, according to Météo-France and Keraunos.
Storm Lothar
Date named and backgroundNamed by the Free University of Berlin, Lothar tracked across a wide swath of Europe, including the UK, France, Germany, and the Baltic states. It brought a prolonged period of gale-force winds and heavy rain to Northern and Central Europe, resulting in localised flooding.
Weather warnings issued
Storm Lothar, when weak, passed over Scotland, as a shallow low on 29 October, bringing heavy rain to parts of south-eastern England and northern and eastern France, prompting yellow rain/flood warnings for central-eastern parts of the country. Deutscher Wetterdienst issued orange wind warnings for north-western provinces bordering Denmark. A yellow wind warning was also issued for north-western areas of Germany. The next day on 30 October, Deutscher Wetterdienst expanded orange wind warnings to cover northern and eastern parts of the country, with a red offshore wind warning for north-west Poland.
Storm Claudia (Pepe)
Date named and backgroundNamed by AEMET on 10 November, Claudia, known as Pepe by FUB, made landfall in Western Europe with significant impact. The storm was particularly deadly in southern Portugal, where at least three people were killed and dozens were injured. It later moved across the UK and Ireland on 14 November, particularly impacting Wales.
Weather warnings issued
Spain and Portugal experienced the most intense effects and subsequent warnings from Storm Claudia, which centered over the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands. Portugal's IPMA had issued widespread Yellow Warnings for Rain, Strong Winds, and Rough Seas across the mainland, particularly affecting coastal and northern districts. The Madeira Archipelago was placed under an Orange Warning for heavy rain and thunderstorms. In the coast of Fernão Ferro, a couple in their 80s was found dead in their flooded home. In Spain, AEMET implemented Orange Alerts for the Canary Islands, specifically La Palma, due to the high risk of flooding from torrential rain. Widespread Yellow Alerts were in place across the archipelago for heavy rain and gusty winds, and Yellow Alerts were also issued for heavy rainfall and winds up to in the mainland's northwest, particularly in Galicia.
The United Kingdom and Ireland felt the influence of an associated frontal system trailing Claudia. The Met Office issued a joint Yellow Rain and Wind Warning for South West England, where heavy rain was expected to accumulate significantly, accompanied by strong southerly winds and coastal gales, leading to difficult driving conditions and localised flooding. Furthermore, Met Éireann had issued Status Yellow Rain Warnings for various counties in the south and east of Ireland, and the UK Met Office maintained Yellow Rain Warnings for Northern Ireland due to persistent rain and stronger winds along the Irish Sea coastlines.
On 13 November, the Met Office issued a severe Amber Rain Warning for 14 November, covering large areas of Wales, the Midlands, western East Anglia, and South West England due to Storm Claudia. The key impacts of this high-level alert include a risk of danger to life from fast-flowing floodwater, homes and businesses being flooded, widespread travel cancellations and delays, and the potential for some communities to be cut off by floodwater. Rainfall was expected to be exceptional, with totals of possible across the affected areas. Also, Met Éireann issued an Orange Rain Warning for three eastern counties: Dublin, Wexford, and Wicklow. This high-level warning signifies a significant risk of severe and dangerous flooding due to exceptionally high rainfall totals falling on already saturated ground, leading to extremely hazardous driving conditions and major travel disruption across these areas.
Storm impacts
As of 22:15 on 14 November, Environment Agency has issued more than 150 flood alerts and 39 flood warnings. Two men have been taken to hospital after a head-on crash in a Black Country residential street. Rail services across central and southern areas, including the lines between London Paddington and Bristol/South Wales, and routes in the Midlands, have experienced major disruption and cancellations due to flooded tracks, with some passengers advised not to travel. Gusty winds, up to in parts of North West England and North West Wales, have added to the hazardous conditions. There have been reports of power cuts and road closures due to flooding and fallen trees, with conditions expected to remain difficult until the rain eases on Saturday morning.
Storm Claudia caused significant weather impacts across Ireland, with the main concern being widespread flooding expected to persist through the weekend. The Status Orange Rain Warning for Dublin, Wexford, and Wicklow has led to hazardous travelling conditions, numerous road closures due to debris and flooding, and the cancellation of several flights at Dublin Airport. Areas under the broader Yellow warning have also seen significant local flooding, particularly in the Laois/Offaly region. A major incident was declared in South Wales due to "severe and widespread" flooding in Monmouth.
Storm Wolfgang
Date named and backgroundWolfgang was a FUB-named system named on 24 November, that primarily affected Central Europe, including Germany and Poland. It contributed to the unsettled late-autumn pattern, bringing the first significant mountain snows of the season to the Alps and Tatras.
Weather warnings issued
The Central Mediterranean and Western Balkans was severely impacted by a low-pressure system during that period, with a dangerous Red Rain Warning having been in effect for Tuesday, November 25, in Campania, Italy, which included the region of Naples. This Red alert signified a rare, extremely dangerous, and destructive weather event with the highest risk of life-threatening flash flooding, landslides, and major infrastructure damage. Simultaneously, the region was broadly affected by Orange Warnings primarily for heavy rain along the Adriatic coast of Croatia and across large parts of Southern Italy for rain, wind, and thunderstorms, where strong to gale-force south-easterly winds caused very rough seas with wind gusts reaching up to. Broader Yellow Rain and Wind Warnings covered Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, where heavy, persistent rainfall and strong winds caused travel difficulties and localised flooding. Poland had issued an Orange/Level 2 warnings for heavy snowfall through central regions in Poland. Latvia had an Orange snow warning in force for central and eastern parts of the country.
Storm Adel
Date named and backgroundAs the first name on the eastern Mediterranean group's list, Adel, named by the Hellenic National Meteorological Service on 25 November 2025, impacted Greece, Albania, and Turkey. The storm brought heavy rain and thunderstorms to the region, leading to localized flash flooding.
Weather warnings issued
Storm Adel formed quickly behind Storm Wolfgang, forecasted to bring heavy rainfall to Central Italy, and parts of Greece, Albania and western Turkey from 26 to 28 November 2025. On Thursday Greece's Metservice warned of heavy rains and storms in the Ionian Islands, Epirus, western and central Sterea, western and southern Peloponnese, central and eastern Macedonia and Thrace. Then again on Friday heavy rains and storms are expected in central and eastern Macedonia, Thrace, the eastern Aegean and until early morning in western Greece.
Italy, once again issued a red rain warning for Campania, which was impacted a few days prior by Wolfgang, a storm named by the Free University of Berlin that impacted the wider region on 24 November.
Storm impacts
The storm caused flooding in Corfu and Aetoloacarnania and as a result the schools were closed. Extensive damages also took place in Thasos and Epirus, while damages also occurred in Attica. The highest rainfall was recorded in Theodoriana, at, and Pramanta, at.
Storm Cassio (Dieter I)
Date named and backgroundNamed by the central Mediterranean group and Dieter I by the Free University of Berlin, Cassio affected Italy, Croatia, and Austria. It brought heavy snowfall to the Dinaric Alps and high winds to the Adriatic coast.
Weather warnings issued
The highest Italian alerts included Red and Orange warnings for catastrophic flooding and landslides across Emilia-Romagna, Liguria, and Tuscany, which was forecast to cause widespread damage to infrastructure and necessitating evacuations.
Storm impacts
The influence of Cassio extended across the Adriatic Sea to Croatia. While Italy's alerts focused on flooding, Croatia's national service issued high-level warnings, typically Orange or Red alerts for the Adriatic Coastal regions and Dalmatia. These warnings primarily targeted strong, gale-force winds and coastal marine hazards, which is expected to cause significant travel disruption, ferry cancellations, and dangerous wave conditions along the exposed coastline.
Storm Byron (Dieter II)
Date named and backgroundByron or Biron was named by the eastern Mediterranean group. It primarily affected Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. The system brought significant precipitation to the Levant, causing flooding in Gaza and East Jerusalem. It was also named Dieter II by the Free University of Berlin.
Weather warnings issued
In anticipation of the storm's extensive impact, the General Secretariat for Civil Protection in Greece issued a "Red Code" mobilization—the highest state of alert—for at least ten regional units, including Attica, Thessaly, the Peloponnese, and numerous islands in the Aegean. As a preventative measure, authorities ordered the closure of all public and private schools across all educational levels on December 5, in high-risk areas, including the capital and islands like Rhodes and Santorini. Citizens in affected areas were strongly advised to restrict movement to essential travel and avoid basements or underground parking areas due to the high risk of flash flooding. Shipping routes in the Aegean Sea faced disruption and cancellations due to the forecast of wind speeds reaching up to 9 on the Beaufort scale. A yellow rain warning was issued for all of Cyprus with 55 millimetres per hour, meaning total accumulation will likely exceed 55 millimetres over 24 hours, posing a significant risk of flash flooding.
Storm impacts
Byron caused flooding in the Gaza Strip and left at least 14 people dead, including three children. At least 12 buildings already damaged due to Israeli bombing during the Gaza war partially collapsed in the territory.
Storm Davide (Elias)
Date named and backgroundNamed by the south-western group on 5 December 2025, Davide brought further wind and rain to France and the Iberian Peninsula. It maintained a period of high-impact weather across south-western Europe.
Weather warnings issued
On 5 December, it brought severe gales through the English Channel and Irish Sea causing yellow warnings for wind for Ireland, Northern Ireland, northern coasts of France. All of those areas, including southern English coasts were also under a force 9 severe gale warning.
Storm impacts
The North Wales coast, specifically from Llanddulas to the East coast of Anglesey and the North West coastline from the Menai Straits to Borth, was under a flood risk for two days due to a combination of high tides and adverse weather. Residents were urged to be careful near coastal paths, beaches, and estuaries. Simultaneously, the River Severn catchment area, from Newtown to the Severn-Vyrnwy Confluence, experienced expected flooding of low-lying land and roads following heavy rainfall that began on the afternoon of Friday 5 December 2025. River levels were elevated, impacting roads near areas like Cilcewydd, Welshpool, and Llandrinio.
Storm Davide had strong thunderstorms in its core due to a mix of very strong wind shear and strong pressure changes. This gave southern counties of England, hail and tornadic supercells on the night of 5 December and into December 6. A tornado tracked through a town called Seaford in East Sussex at around 03:40 GMT on 6 December. The following TORRO analysis of the damage concluded that the tornado likely reached winds of over and an intensity of T3 on the TORRO scale as it ripped several garage doors and roofs off along with several roof tiles along its track.
Storm Bram (Helmut)
Date Named & BackgroundNamed by the Met Éireann on 8 December, Bram, named Helmut by FUB, was the second storm of the season for the western group. It tracked across the UK and Ireland, producing significant wind gusts and travel disruption.
Storm Bram was an extra-tropical cyclone, of a specific kind called a Shapiro-Keyser Cyclone.
Weather Warnings Issued
Warnings were issued across the regions, including Amber Wind Warnings for northwest Scotland and Amber Rain Warnings for areas in south Wales and Devon. Ireland's Met Éireann also put Status Orange wind warnings in place for multiple coastal counties. The primary concern was the combination of extreme elements. Wind gusts were forecast to reach upwards of in exposed coastal areas of Scotland, while widespread winds of impacted the rest of the UK. Heavy rainfall was recorded, with some areas in south Wales and southwest England receiving up to of rain. These intense conditions caused severe disruption. The high wind and rain led to significant travel issues, with rail speed restrictions and widespread delays across air and ferry services. Due to the high rainfall on saturated ground, the storm increased the risk of flooding and local power cuts in many affected areas. At around 17:00 GMT on 8 December, a red warning over the Irish waters between Loop Head and Malin Head was issued as force 11 violent storm force winds were expected between 12:00 and 23:30 GMT on 9 December. At around 21:00 GMT, this red warning was extended southwards to Mizen Head, and pushed forward to 09:00 GMT. As well as this, the orange warnings were extended to cover the majority of the whole of Ireland at the same time. By 08:00 GMT on 9 December, the red warnings were further extended all the way around the coast to Carnsore Point and the orange warnings were extended over the rest of Ireland and most of Northern Ireland.
Storm Impacts
White Barrow in Devon, recording of rainfall, Treherbert in Glamorgan had, just ahead of Dartmoor and Princetown in Devon. Flights and trains were cancelled throughout Tuesday, and hundreds of properties left without power. The M4 Prince of Wales Bridge in Gloucestershire was not due to reopen until 06:00 due to emergency roadworks to allow for the removal of 35 faulty lighting columns at risk of collapse, which could've been impacted by the strong winds and heavy rain from Bram. Due to strong winds, the A66 in County Durham/Cumbria is closed to high-sided vehicles between the A1M and M6. The A19 Tees Flyover was also closed. In Greater Manchester, the M66 southbound was closed for water clearance. For rail, Scotland's routes face ongoing disruption. Several routes closed by Storm Bram, including Fort William to Mallaig and Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh, require daylight inspection for damage before reopening.
Storm Emilia (Jonathan)
Date named and backgroundEmilia, was named by the south-western group and Jonathan by FUB. It brought severe weather to the Iberian Peninsula, Canary Islands and Morocco.
Weather warnings issued
AEMET issued widespread Orange and Yellow alerts for Friday and Saturday across all Canary Islands due to severe conditions including high winds, heavy rain, snow, thunderstorms, and dangerous coastal conditions.
The Spanish weather agency, AEMET, issued a Red Alert for the Valencia coastline due to the threat of torrential rain from Storm Emilia, indicating an extreme risk of severe flash flooding and danger to life.
Morocco's weather authority has issued an Orange alert for heavy snowfall in Midelt, Ouarzazate, and Tinghir, along with significant snow across several other regions, with rain and storms expected at lower altitudes from Friday to Sunday.
Storm impacts
Storm Emilia caused catastrophic damage across the Canary Islands, Morocco, and Spain in mid-December 2025, resulting in at least 37 fatalities due to flash flooding in the Moroccan city of Safi. In the Canary Islands, emergency services responded to a record 2,225 incidents as the archipelago was battered by hurricane-force gusts of at Izaña and waves exceeding 9 meters. The storm brought unusual heavy snowfall to the peaks of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, forcing the closure of Teide National Park, while torrential rains of up to 150 mm triggered mudslides and urban flooding across Murcia and Valencia on the Spanish mainland.
Storm Nils
Date named and backgroundStorm Nils was named by the Free University of Berlin on 20 December 2025. It originated as a low off the coast of the British Isles, then split into Nils II on 22 December and tracked into the Mediterranean.
Weather warnings issued
Orange warnings were active for high elevations in the Black Forest and Bavarian Alps, where wind gusts were expected to reach 80–100 km/h. These gale-force conditions are expected to persist through Christmas Eve, accompanied by additional hazards like freezing rain and icy roads.
This system throughout its life brought widespread orange warnings across Italy and other Mediterranean regions.
On 24 December, locally strong winds and gales with strong gusts of 5565 knots were expected with peak gusts possibly up to hurricane force at 70 knots. This along with locally high waves were warned in both Croatia and Slovenia.
Multiple orange warnings were issued in Italy for heavy rainfall, along with heavy snowfall at altitudes above 300–400 meters expected between 12:00 UTC on 24 December until 06:00 UTC on 26 December. The warnings also warned coastal regions of strong gales up to 4050 knots and strong storm surges.
Storm Johannes (Peda)
Date named and backgroundStorm Johannes was named on 26 December 2025 by the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute as it began its track toward the Scandinavian Peninsula. Simultaneously, the Finnish Meteorological Institute monitored the system under the name Hannes.
The storm was a result of explosive cyclogenesis over the North Atlantic, with its central pressure dropping rapidly as it moved into the Norwegian Sea. Meteorologists recorded wind gusts reaching hurricane levels in the Swedish mountains.
Weather warnings issued
In Sweden, SMHI issued orange and yellow wind warnings for over half the country. On 27 December, the Swedish Transport Administration issued a public service announcement, urging residents in northern Dalarna, Gävleborg, Västernorrland, and Jämtland to stay off the roads. In Finland, FMI issued warnings for heavy snow and "dangerous" winds, predicting accumulations of up to 40 cm in Lapland. In Norway, authorities in the Nordland region reported over 200 emergency calls as they dealt with hurricane-force gusts.
Storm impacts
Sweden confirmed three deaths. A man in his 50s died after being hit by a falling tree near the Kungsberget ski resort. A man in his 60s died in Hofors from injuries sustained from a falling tree while working in a forest. Additionally, a utility worker in Härnösand died in a field accident while clearing debris. In Finland, outages peaked at over 180,000 households, particularly in the western regions. Sweden reported over 40,000 homes without power. At Kittilä Airport, strong winds pushed a Swiss Air passenger jet and a smaller aircraft off the runway into snowbanks; fortunately, there were no injuries. In Sweden, the Sundsvall Bridge and several major rail lines were closed. The Gävle Goat collapsed on 27 December due to the extreme wind gusts.
Storm Roman
Date named and backgroundStorm Roman was named by the Free University of Berlin on 27 December 2025. It was the second storm out of many in a line of polar storms that impacted Northeast Europe. This storm's name was officially adopted by Poland on 30 December instead of Germany as they had issued red warnings despite being in the same naming group.
Weather warnings issued
Severe gales and storm force gusts were forecast through the Baltic Sea and surrounding coastal regions on 29 and 30 December. Orange marine warnings and yellow coastal warnings remained in Sweden, Finland and the Baltics as gusts up to 2530 m/s were expected. Wave heights also reached 3.05.5 m widely.
Orange and red warnings were issued in Poland due to very heavy snowfall along with storm force gusts in coastal regions on the 30 and 31 December. It stated that 2040 cm of snow could fall in some places with up to 60 cm on higher ground. All this whilst being accompanied by 90100 km/h gusts. This caused widespread orange warnings for strong blizzards being issued throughout the country.
Storm impacts
The blizzard conditions may already have contributed to a fatal accident on an expressway in northeastern Poland. A passenger car collided with a truck near the central Polish village of Złotoria. Police said a female passenger in her 50s was killed, while two other occupants of the car were taken to the hospital.
Storm Anna (Tizian)
Date named and backgroundStorm Anna was named by the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute on 31 December 2025, it is a historically significant weather event as it is the first storm to be named under the northern group's unified naming list.
It was also named Tizian by the Free University of Berlin two days prior. This was the third and strongest of a line of polar lows to impact this region within a one-week timespan.
Weather warnings issued
For Gävleborg County is a Red Warning. Orange warnings issued for Southern Gästrikland and Northern Uppland. Forecasters warned of heavy snowfall combined with windy conditions, predicting 20–40 cm of snow locally. Expected impacts include power outages, telecommunication disruptions, and dangerous road conditions due to drifting snow. A Yellow warning was issued for Eastern Svealand and parts of Central Sweden. This covers heavy morning snowfall and strong gusts, which are expected to cause significant delays in public transport and hazardous driving conditions. Authorities have urged the public to reconsider travel on New Year's Day, warning that "rescue vehicles may struggle to get through" and that vehicles are likely to become stuck in drifting snow.
Storm impacts
Storm Anna caused widespread chaos at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, particularly on January 2, 2026, where a combination of heavy snow and shifting crosswinds led to the cancellation of over 325 flights and delayed more than 635 others. The disruption at Schiphol hit KLM and easyJet hardest, with KLM alone cancelling roughly 30% of its schedule due to the airport's reduced runway capacity. The storm brought wind gusts of up to 90 km/h along the northern coast of the Netherlands. These high winds caused secondary issues, such as the suspension of ground handling operations and de-icing procedures at major airports when wind speeds became too dangerous for ramp workers.
In Sweden, Meteorologists recorded extreme accumulations, with up to 50 centimetres of snow falling in parts of central Sweden on New Year's Day and January 2, leaving thousands of households without power. In the Netherlands and Germany, the storm's tail end brought freezing rain and black ice, leading to hazardous road conditions and the deployment of specialized snow removal equipment like the Lavastorm truck on major highways. Meanwhile, in Poland, the storm's heavy snow paralyzed the S7 motorway, leaving hundreds of travelers stranded in sub-zero temperatures with traffic jams stretching up to 20 kilometres.
Northern Scotland, where the Met Office has issued Amber Warnings for snow. Forecasters are warning of blizzard conditions caused by the storm's strong northerly winds, with accumulations expected to reach up to 40 cm on higher ground and 10–20 cm at lower levels. Major roads like the A93 and A939 due to impassable snow drifts.
Storm Francis (Ulli)
Date named and backgroundStorm Francis was an Atlantic windstorm that impacted the mid-Atlantic islands and South-western Europe in late December 2025 and in early January 2026. It was named by the Portuguese Met Office on 31 December 2025. It was also named Ulli by FUB.
Weather warnings issued
The Portuguese weather agency and the Spanish agency issued a wide range of warnings for Storm Francis, which is expected to bring a significant shift from dry, polar air to intense subtropical instability. In Madeira, the most severe conditions were anticipated, with Orange warnings rising to Red issued for the highlands and southern slopes due to persistent, heavy rainfall, hail, and thunderstorms, with wind gusts reaching up to 115 km/h. Across the Canary Islands, the regional government has declared alerts for rain and wind, while AEMET has specifically activated Yellow warnings for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms, particularly in Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and La Palma, where gusts of 80–90 km/h and rough seas with waves up to 4 meters are expected. On the Portuguese mainland, all districts are under Yellow warnings for New Year's Day as the storm's frontal systems bring heavy rain and maritime turbulence, while in Spain, widespread showers and high-altitude snow are forecast for the Andalucía region through the first weekend of the year.
The Moroccan General Directorate of Meteorology issued Red Alerts—the highest possible warning level—for the provinces of Agadir Ida-Outanane, Taroudant, and Essaouira. These regions are bracing for extreme rainfall totals of up to 120mm in 24 hours, raising the immediate risk of flash floods in low-lying valleys and "wadis". In Algeria Coastal provinces are currently under orange alerts for both torrential rain and gale-force winds. The storm is driving high waves against the northern shoreline, leading to the suspension of several maritime transport routes. Deep in the interior, the Atlas Mountains are seeing significant snow accumulation above 1,200 meters. These conditions have made many mountain passes impassable, isolating several rural communities. The Italian Civil Protection has issued Orange and Yellow alerts across several regions. In the north, particularly around Trieste and the Adriatic coast, Orange Alerts are active for Wind and Snow, with "Bora" gusts reaching up to 150 km/h causing severe blizzard conditions. Central and Southern Italy are under Yellow Alerts for Rain and Thunderstorms. These warnings highlight the risk of localized flash flooding and landslides as the storm's center moves across the Mediterranean toward the coast.
The National Institute of Meteorology has issued Yellow Alerts for Rain and Wind. These warnings indicate that the weather is "potentially dangerous," with rainfall totals expected to reach 40 mm in the northwest. There is also a specialized Cold Wave Warning for the high-altitude regions of Jendouba and Siliana. This covers the risk of Snow and Ice, which is rare for the region and expected to disrupt local mountain transit.
In the Balkan region, warning levels have reached the maximum severity. Croatia and Montenegro have issued Red Alerts for Hurricane-force Winds, specifically the storm, which is gusting over 160 km/h. Slovenia and Bosnia are under Orange Alerts for Snow and Blizzards, with fresh accumulations exceeding 40–60 cm expected to cause a total standstill in transportation. Serbia remains under Yellow and Orange Alerts for Extreme Cold, as temperatures are recorded at 15 °C below the seasonal average.
Storm impacts
Storm Francis hit the Canary Islands and Madeira first, with wind gusts peaking at 120 km/h in Tenerife. In the highlands of Madeira, the Portuguese weather agency upgraded warnings to Red as the storm delivered 115 km/h gusts and 4-meter swells, while La Palma recorded torrential rainfall exceeding 76 liters per square meter in just a few hours. As the storm moves from the Gulf of Cádiz toward the Mediterranean on 4 January, the snow level in Catalonia and the Ebro Valley was expected to start dropping toward 200 metres, with a risk of snow reaching sea level by Monday morning.
Storm Francis caused significant devastation across Southern Europe, leading to at least eight confirmed deaths and widespread destruction. In Spain, three people were killed in Andalusia—including a man whose van was swept away in Malaga and a young person on a motorbike in Granada—while the region faced record-breaking rainfall of up to 290 mm, collapsing bridges and forcing the evacuation of nearly 500 homes. In Portugal, the storm resulted in two deaths in the Setúbal district due to house flooding, alongside nearly 1,000 emergency incidents and massive power outages. Additionally, three fatalities occurred in Southwestern France as the storm's moisture turned into "black ice" upon meeting a polar air mass, causing lethal road accidents.
Storm Goretti (Elli)
Date named and backgroundStorm Goretti was named by Météo-France on 6 January 2026. and Elli by the Free University of Berlin the same morning. It originated in the Atlantic Ocean, and is expected to impact southern parts of the United Kingdom, as well as France and other countries in western Europe with strong winds, heavy rain and heavy snowfall, particularly on the northern side of the system.
Weather warnings issued
For the United Kingdom, the Met Office issued a broad yellow snow warning for the Midlands, where some areas, 5–10 cm of snow may settle with the potential for up to in some locations. A yellow wind warning was also issued for the south-west of England, specifically Cornwall. Within the warning area as Goretti pulls away, gusts of were likely but could reach around exposed headlands and coasts.
The warnings have been upgraded to amber in the Midlands and most of Wales for snow, which lasts from 8–9 January. There is also an additional warning upgrade to Amber in Cornwall due to wind, which lasts during the 8th January. A yellow rain warning was also issued for eastern England, including The Fens, Lincolnshire, all of Norfolk and north Suffolk. rainfall is likely quite widely, with a small chance of in a few places, leading to the chance of some flooding and disruption. In addition, rain may turn to sleet or wet snow at times which may lead to some accumulations in places. Strong winds, especially near Norfolk & Suffolk coasts, will be an additional hazard with winds gusting at times and leading to large waves through Friday.
At 2pm on 8 January, Met Office issued a Red wind warning for the west of Cornwall including the Scilly Isles, Lands End, Truro, Falmouth, St Ives, Redruth/Camborne. Peak gusts of 80100 mph or more were expected in exposed areas.
A man died when a tree hit his caravan Cornwall
In the Channel Islands, Jersey and Guernsey are braced for Red-level wind threats with gusts potentially reaching 110 mph. Forecasted impacts include structural damage, uprooted trees, and coastal flooding during the Thursday night high tide; authorities have strongly advised residents to stay indoors from 8:00 PM Thursday until dawn Friday.
France issued Red Warnings for violent winds, with gusts up to 140 km/h expected between Thursday night and Friday morning. Impacts include extreme danger from flying debris, widespread power outages, and a total halt to most transportation.
For 8–9 January 2026, Météo-France has issued Orange alerts for violent winds and snow/ice across the northern half of France, including Brittany, Normandy, and the Paris region. Storm Goretti is forecasted to bring extreme gusts of to the English Channel coasts and up to inland, posing a high risk of falling trees and power outages. Simultaneously, heavy snowfall of is expected to cause major disruptions to SNCF rail services, grounded flights at major airports, and treacherous "black ice" on roads. Yellow alerts for coastal flooding also apply to northern shorelines due to high waves and storm surges.
The German Meteorological Service DWD issued an orange warning for strong winds in the north and southwest for gusts up to 100 km/h. A red warning was issued for elevated regions of Black Forest for gusts up to 130 km/h. An orange warning for strong snowfall of up to 15 cm was issued for Northern Germany, locally up to 30 cm are expected. A red warning for strong snowfall and snowdrifts was issued for parts of Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg. A stormsurge is expected at the Baltic Coast. Water levels of 1.5m above normal are expected.
Storm impacts
A wind gust of is recorded at St Mary's Airport, Isles of Scilly, marking a new record for the site. A wind gust of was also reported in Padstow, Cornwall. A stronger gust of occurred at Barfleur, province of Manche, France.
Almost 100 schools in Cornwall have completely closed early on Thursday ahead of the arrival of the storm.
Up to 60,000 properties lost power across the United Kingdom, with over 380,000 reported in France. Storm Goretti has caused widespread destruction and disruption across the UK, the Channel Islands, and France, characterised by a rare combination of record-breaking winds and heavy snowfall. Structural Damage and Dangerous Conditions In the South West and the Channel Islands, extreme winds gusting between 90 mph and 100 mph—and peaking at 132 mph in Northern France—have caused significant structural damage. Reports include roofs being blown off buildings, windows shattered by flying debris, and hundreds of trees uprooted. The storm surge, combined with high tides, led to severe coastal overtopping, with large waves throwing debris onto coastal roads and damaging sea defences. Travel across the UK was brought to a near-standstill. Great Western Railway suspended services throughout Cornwall and parts of Wales, while heavy snow forced the complete closure of major motorways and A-roads, including the A30 and the A628 Woodhead Pass. Aerodromes and airports, including Jersey, Birmingham, and East Midlands, were forced to completely cancel flights or close entirely to clear runways of snow and ice. Numerous motorists were forced to abandon their vehicles overnight as blizzards created impassable drifts.
In France, the rail network faced total gridlock in northern regions. In Paris and the surrounding areas, several Transilien and RER lines were completely suspended due to fallen trees on tracks and overhead line damage. Coastal Flooding: High tides combined with a significant storm surge led to major overtopping in coastal towns, with sea defences being breached in several locations along the northern coast.
In Germany, schools will be closed on Friday in Lower Saxony, Bremen, Hamburg and parts of Schleswig-Holstein.Bus, rail and ferry services are affected in the North.
Indirectly, an 81-year-old man died in Donostia-San Sebastián, when wind gusts from Goretti caused him to fall in the Urumea River.
Storm Harry
Date named and backgroundStorm Harry was named by AEMET on 16 January 2026. A weak area of low pressure meandering over the Iberian Peninsula for a few days, then emerged as a broad area of low pressure over the western Mediterranean.
Travel and infrastructure are facing moderate disruptions, especially in northern regions where a recent cold snap has left mountain passes difficult to navigate. Renfe, the national rail operator, has activated winter protocols in areas like Zaragoza and León to prevent delays caused by ice or debris. In the Canary Islands, the government has moved from a pre-alert to a full Wind Alert for the western islands and Gran Canaria, where gusts are forecast to exceed 70 km/h, potentially affecting local ferry services and high-altitude hiking trails.
Weather warnings issued
AEMET issued Yellow Warnings for persistent rain and localised thunderstorms in northeastern Spain, particularly across the Barcelona and Girona regions, with some areas expecting up to 20 mm of accumulation in a single hour. Meanwhile, the Canary Islands are under a Coastal Alert as a northwest swell is generating waves of 4 to 5 meters, coinciding with spring tides that increase the risk of coastal flooding.
AEMET issued orange torrential rain warnings as rain was pumped toward Catalonia and Valencia, with expected accumulations over 150 l/m² and severe flooding risks. Maritime conditions are critical, with waves reaching 10 meters along the eastern coast and historic snow depth hitting the Pyrenees. A red warning for rain was issued on 20 January 2026, for Empordà for up to 180 mm in 12 hours.
Italy issued red warnings A high-intensity red alert has been issued for Tuesday, 20 January, as stationary bands of rain are expected to dump over 100mm in 24 hours. This poses a major threat of landslides and flash floods in the steep terrain of Sicily and Calabria, accompanied by 60 mph gale-force winds.
Meteo France also issued, orange warnings for Eastern Corsica as the island is on high alert for intense easterly gales with gusts reaching 100 km/h and heavy localised rainfall. The storm is generating hazardous maritime swells along the coast, particularly disrupting travel and causing significant overtopping in exposed northern and eastern harbors.
Maltese Home Affairs Minister Byron Camilleri and the Maltese Civil Protection Department urged residents of Malta to stay indoors and avoid coastal areas due to the severe weather, in addition to various services such as ferry transport and garbage collection being suspended by the government. Schools in Mellieħa, St Paul's Bay and Qawra, as well as MCAST and the University of Malta's Junior College, were temporarily closed as a precautionary measure. The Malta International Airport Met Office issued a red warning for level 9 gale-force winds on 19 January 2026, persisting through the 20th.
Storm impacts
According to statistics issued by the Times of Malta, the Civil Protection Department of Malta had responded to more than 180 incidents, while the Armed Forces of Malta was called in to help vessels in rough seas by 20 January 2026, mid-afternoon. The Civil Protection Department had a busy 30 hours, saying in a social media post that officers had cleared 85 fallen trees, 23 pieces of debris and three billboard "incidents". Marsaxlokk was the most affected as major floods and distracted building were reported.
According to the report, a commuter train derailed in the Vacarisses area, northwest of Barcelona, after a retaining wall collapsed onto the tracks. The train driver was killed, and dozens of passengers were injured. Authorities believe the wall was destabilised by the torrential rainfall associated with Storm Harry, which has been battering the region for several days.
In Tunisia, at least five people were killed as Storm Harry brought record-breaking rainfall and flooding across the coastal regions. Meteorological officials said rainfall levels in some regions were the highest recorded since 1950, reaching in Sidi Bou Said. The heavy rains flooded streets, submerged vehicles, and disrupted daily life, leading authorities to close schools and suspend transport and court sessions in several governorates.
Several days after the storm, Sicily experienced a major 2026 [Niscemi landslide|landslide] in the town of Niscemi, caused by the long period of heavy rains and geology of the ground on which the town was built.
Italy’s coastguard estimates that 380 others who set sail from Tunisia during the cyclone, which generated huge waves in the Mediterranean, might also have drowned. The coastguard has been searching for eight vessels that had been launched by people smugglers from the Tunisian port city of Sfax during the past 10 days despite the treacherous conditions.
Storm Ingrid (Leonie)
Date named and backgroundStorm Ingrid was named by IPMA on 20 January 2026 and Leonie by the Free University of Berlin the next morning.
Weather warnings issued
In Spain and Portugal, red alerts are active in Galicia, Spain, for extraordinary danger from 9-metre waves. In Portugal, orange alerts cover most coastal districts due to predicted 15-metre wave sets and gusts of 100 km/h. Significant snowfall of up to 25 cm is expected in northern mountains, with snow potentially reaching southern regions.
In the United Kingdom, an amber risk to life warning is in effect for eastern Scotland, where rainfall exceeding 100 mm may cause dangerous flooding and isolate communities. Yellow warnings cover wider areas for rain and wind, with the storm expected to bring gales and hill snow to Wales and southwest England on Friday. The Met Office also issued a yellow wind and rain warning for South Wales, and South-west England, including Cornwall and the Scilly Isles, where heavy rain will bring up to 40 mm to saturated ground through Friday night, likely causing flooding across the region. These downpours will be accompanied by 60 mph coastal gales and large waves before conditions ease on Saturday morning.
Met Éireann has issued yellow coastal small craft warnings for Gale Force 8 warnings for the Irish Sea. Meteo France issued orange rain warnings for the north-west of the country as well as a wide yellow wind warning.
Authorities warn of widespread travel chaos, power outages, and flooding. No fatalities have been confirmed for this specific system yet, but emergency services have advised against all non-essential travel in high-risk areas.
Storm impacts
A partial collapse of the 157-year-old Teignmouth Grand Pier in Devon, which saw a large section washed away by powerful waves. Nearby in Dawlish, the sea wall crumbled, leaving tonnes of debris on the rail lines. Coastal towns reported smashed benches, destroyed flower beds, and "unusually high" swells that battered seafront infrastructure.
The storm caused travel distruption across the South West and Wales. All rail services between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot were suspended due to the sea wall breach at Dawlish, while ferry sailings between Fishguard and Rosslare were cancelled. In Wales, the Cleddau Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles, and in Scotland, multiple roads including the A94 were shut due to rising floodwaters.
Dozens of flood warnings were issued as rivers like the River Teign and River Axe threatened to burst their banks. Emergency services were active in Scotland, where firefighters rescued three people from stranded vehicles in Aberdeenshire. Environmental concerns also rose in Pembrokeshire, where storm overflows led to untreated sewage discharges at several popular beaches.
In Portugal and Spain, the storm triggered "extreme" red alerts. Portugal's western coastline faced waves up to 15 metres high, leading to the closure of schools and roads in Porto and Viana do Castelo. In Spain, a "polar air mass" followed the rain, causing temperatures to plummet and snow to fall at altitudes as low as 300 metres in northern regions.
Storm Joseph (Marilu)
Date named and backgroundStorm Joseph was named by IPMA on 25 January, and Marilu by FUB on the same day.
Weather warnings issued
Spain’s weather agency, AEMET, issued its highest level of alert, a Red Warning, for the Pontevedra area in Galicia on 26 January 2026. This "extreme danger" warning followed forecasts of torrential rain exceeding 120mm within 12 hours, creating a high risk of flash flooding. Much of the rest of mainland Spain, including Madrid, was placed under yellow and orange alerts for heavy rain, while mountainous regions braced for significant snowfall as temperatures were set to plummet.
In Portugal, the national weather service IPMA placed several districts, including Porto, Lisbon, and Braga, under Orange Alerts for persistent, heavy rainfall and high winds. The arrival of Storm Joseph—named by Portuguese meteorologists—brought the risk of river flooding, particularly in the north, and dangerous coastal conditions with waves predicted to peak at a massive 12 metres. Additionally, wind gusts of up to 100 km/h were forecast for highland areas, alongside warnings for snowfall in the Serra da Estrela mountains.
Storm impacts
Large waves caused some impacts. However, most impacts came from Storm Kristin, which developed off Joseph.
This is one of those scenarios where a windstorm was named because of the risk of impacts, but those impacts for this particular storm diminished as things evolved.
Storm Chandra (Norma)
Date named and backgroundStorm Chandra was named by the Met Office on 26 January 2026. It was also named Norma by FUB the same day.
An area of low pressure, which developed quickly in the Atlantic, which impacted western Europe brining severe flooding and wind to Northern Ireland, South-West England and South Wales.
Weather warnings issued
An Amber Rain Warning was put in place for South Devon, Dorset, and Southeast Cornwall, where heavy rainfall was expected to reach up to 80mm on already saturated ground. Simultaneously, an Amber Wind Warning was issued for eastern Northern Ireland, with forecasts predicting dangerous gusts of up to 75mph. Yellow warnings for snow were also established for parts of Scotland and Northern England, as significant accumulations were anticipated on higher ground.
In Ireland, Met Éireann released a Status Yellow Rain Warning for Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow, citing risks of localised flooding and hazardous travel conditions. Marine warnings were also active for all Irish coasts as winds were projected to reach Gale Force 8.
Storm impacts
Storm Chandra caused widespread disruption across the UK and Ireland on 27 January 2026, leading to the closure of nearly 250 schools in Northern Ireland and the transition of major universities to online learning. The storm's arrival triggered "danger to life" amber warnings as wind gusts reached 75mph and heavy rainfall fell on ground already saturated by previous storms. In coastal areas of Devon and Cornwall, significant damage was reported to roads and beachfront structures, while over 130 flood warnings were activated across England. Transport networks faced severe interference, with the M48 Severn Bridge and the Humber Bridge both closing or restricting access due to high winds. Rail services, particularly Great Western Railway, were forced to shut down several lines in the South West as flooding submerged tracks and debris blocked routes. Meanwhile, in Scotland and Northern England, the storm brought heavy snowfall of up to 20cm on higher ground, creating hazardous driving conditions and leaving some upland communities isolated.
The Environment Agency escalated its response by issuing a rare Severe Flood Warning for the River Otter at Ottery St Mary. This "danger to life" alert was triggered when river levels were forecast to surpass their highest ever recorded levels at the Fenny Bridges gauge. Emergency services focused on evacuations at the Finnimore Industrial Estate and Thorne Farm Way, where deep, fast-flowing water inundated properties from the early hours of Tuesday morning. Another severe flood warning was issued from the Environment Agency for Upper Frome in Dorchester.
The road network in South West England was significantly severed as arterial routes became impassable. National Highways confirmed the A30 was closed in both directions between Ottery St Mary and Exeter Airport, with the A303 also shut between Ilminster and Upottery. In addition to the major bridges, the A377 at Newton St Cyres and the A35 at Stinsford were blocked, leaving many commuters in Devon and Dorset stranded as fire crews worked to rescue motorists from submerged vehicles.
In Northern Ireland, the scale of disruption was immense, with the number of confirmed school closures rising to over 300 institutions. Major academic bodies, including Queen’s University Belfast and multiple Ulster University campuses, completely suspended physical operations. Beyond education, the storm caused significant power outages, with Northern Ireland Electricity reporting that 10,000 properties lost power, while an additional 20,000 homes and businesses faced blackouts across the Republic of Ireland.
The storm effectively halted travel across the Irish Sea and Scottish coastlines. Caledonian MacBrayne was forced to cancel almost all its ferry sailings, including those to Mull, Iona, and Barra, while Stena Line suspended all morning crossings between Belfast and Liverpool. Aviation also took a hit, with Belfast City Airport cancelling at least 30 flights and regional carrier Loganair grounding 20 services across its network due to the extreme wind gusts.
There was one fatality as a result of the storm after a lorry crashed into a river in the New Forest, killing the driver.
Storm Kristin
Date named & backgroundStorm Kristin was named by the IPMA on the 27 January 2026, as a significant impact was forecasted.
Kristin developed from a baroclinic disturbance generated by Storm Joseph, which subsequently developed into a compact but extremely powerful storm. Under influence of a trough in the jet stream, Kristin underwent a process of explosive cyclogenesis. In the hours before landfall, Kristin developed a sting jet, as Kristin was a warm seclusion cyclone. Instead of weakening, like numerical weather predictions models suggested beforehand, Kristin made landfall in the Leiria district at peak intensity.
Weather warnings issued
Red warnings for wind were issued for northern parts of Portugal with 140 km/h winds forecasted. AEMET, The State Meteorological Agency for Spain has issued a red alert for the interior of Pontevedra due to forecasts of torrential rain exceeding 120mm. Strong winds are a major concern across the country with hurricane-force gusts expected to impact the far southeast and various interior regions. Much of the Spanish interior remains under orange or yellow alerts for gusts that could reach 100 km/h and cause structural damage. Significant snowfall is predicted for the northern plateau at altitudes as low as 600 meters which may disrupt major motorways such as the A-1 and A-6. Coastal areas will also experience extremely rough seas with waves up to 8 meters battering the Atlantic coast and severe conditions spreading into the Mediterranean tomorrow.
On 28 January 2026, Italian Civil Protection Department had issued Orange Alerts for Lazio, Sardinia, and Molise due to the arrival of Storm Kristin. These regions face high-speed winds and significant hydrogeological risks, while a Yellow Alert covered much of the rest of the peninsula for rain, wind, and thunderstorms. In the north, Red Alerts for Avalanches were in effect for the Western Alps, while the south remained in a State of Emergency following last week's Storm Harry, which triggered the massive 4km-long landslide currently threatening the town of Niscemi, Sicily.
The National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority elevated the state of special readiness to level 4 in the day before storm Kristin made landfall.
Storm impacts
Wind gusts reached at Soure, making Kristin the most powerful storm to have ever affected Portugal. An amateur station measured a wind gust of at Lavos, which is located in the Coimbra district, which would possibly make Kristin one of the most intense storms in terms of wind speed to have ever affected Europe.
Six people are now reported to have died as Storm Kristin brought driving rain accompanied by high winds to Portugal overnight. With 1 fatality in Spain, a woman who was hit by a falling palm tree. The various deaths have not all been fully explained. One man died as a tree fell on top of the car he was driving in Vila Franca de Xira. Another person died as a result of a falling metallic structure in Leiria – and since then three other fatalities have been confirmed by authorities.
Furthermore, at least 485 people got indirectly injured as a result of cleaning and reconstruction accidents.
Power outages were reported in Guarda, Coimbra, Castelo Branco, Portalegre, Leiria, Santarém, Abrantes, Peniche and Setúbal where as many as 855,000 homes are said to be without electricity. During its peak, around one million homes experienced power outages. Rail services are already interrupted along many lines throughout the country.
In Extremadura, the storm caused widespread wind- and rain-related incidents, prompting emergency coordination by the regional 112 Extremadura service. Between midnight and 18:00 on 28 January, 112 handled 2,500 calls and 455 incidents directly linked to the storm; from 26 January to 28 January, it managed 5,260 calls and 1,462 incidents, including 535 related to the weather alert. Telecommunications were affected, with reported line outages in several areas—especially the north of the province of Cáceres—as strong gusts damaged infrastructure.
In the city of Cáceres, municipal incidents included falling trees and branches, as well as detached roof elements and masonry; no injuries were reported locally. A large fallen tree damaged part of a perimeter wall at an educational site, alongside additional tree falls at multiple locations across the city. A wind gust of 108 km/h was reported in Cáceres during the event. Road transport was also disrupted across the region. In the province of Cáceres, seven roads and three rural tracks were reported with circulation problems, and two trucks overturned on the A-66 due to strong winds. As a precaution, the regional government suspended morning classes across Extremadura on 28 January, citing forecasts of heavy rain, snow and strong gusts; snow warnings specifically covered northern areas of the province of Cáceres. Regional emergency and forest-fire crews were deployed to address material damage, including removal of loose roof tiles and clearing wind-blown objects, in multiple localities—several of them in the province of Cáceres—such as Grimaldo, Casares de Hurdes, Hinojal, Brozas, Valdesalor, Garciaz, Membrío, Bohonal de Ibor, and Garrovillas de Alconétar.
Storm Patricia
Date named & backgroundStorm Patricia was named on 30 January 2026 by the Free University of Berlin.
The system impacted Italy, Croatia, and the wider Balkan Peninsula. Emerging from a secondary low-pressure area following the passage of Storm Kristin.
Weather warnings issued
In Bulgaria, The National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology has issued a Code Orange warning for 24 out of 28 districts, forecasting significant snowfall of up to 20 cm and severe blizzards with visibility-reducing snow drifts. In Romania, The National Meteorological Administration has issued a severe weather advisory for a sharp cold snap, with temperatures expected to plunge to -15°C in mountain depressions and widespread frost across the country.
National meteorological services issued severe alerts for the arrival of the storm on 1 February 2026. The Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service issued red wind warnings for the Velebit Channel and the Kvarner region, where hurricane-force Bora winds were forecast to exceed 150 km/h. In Italy, the Protezione Civile issued orange and red warnings for torrential rain and flash flooding across Sicily and Calabria. Additionally, yellow marine warnings were maintained for the Ionian Sea as the system moved toward the Greek FIR.
Storm impacts
The storm was responsible for significant structural damage and travel chaos across the region. In Croatia, extreme Bora winds forced the closure of the A1 motorway and the Krk Bridge, while maritime transport was suspended due to gusts of 155 km/h. In Greece, torrential rain led to flooding in Agiokampos and the Peloponnese, where roads were submerged by rising waters. In Southern Italy, the system exacerbated existing damage from earlier cyclones, contributing to land subsidence and evacuations in Niscemi, while all ferry connections to the Aeolian Islands were suspended due to sea conditions.
Storm Leonardo
Date named & backgroundStorm Leonardo was named on 2 February 2026 by AEMET.
Weather warnings issued
In Portugal, the IPMA has issued amber alerts for 10 coastal districts due to "rough seas", with waves expected to reach between 5 and 6 metres and peaks of up to 11 metres. Heavy rain is falling on already saturated ground, leading to a high risk of flooding along the Douro, Tagus, and Mondego rivers. Yellow alerts for snow are also in effect for the northern highlands, where accumulations could exceed 10 cm above 1,000 metres.
In Spain, AEMET has activated widespread yellow alerts for intense rainfall in Galicia, Andalusia, and Extremadura, with some areas expecting up to 90 litres per square metre above seasonal norms. Coastal Galicia remains under an amber alert for waves reaching 6 metres. Additionally, alerts for thaw are active in Castilla y León, as rising temperatures and heavy rain threaten to cause rapid runoff and river overflows in areas recently covered by snow.
The Met Office issued a yellow rain warning for south-west England where accumulations of 10-20 mm are possible fairly widely, with perhaps as much as 40-60 mm over Dartmoor. Given saturated ground following recent rain, there is a chance this may leading to some flooding and disruption in places.
'''Storm impacts'''
Season effects
| Name | FUB name | Storm Type | Dates active | Highest wind gust | Lowest pressure | Named by | Countries affected | Fatalities |
| Alessio | Calvin | Genoa Low | Unspecified | Italy | Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Slovenia, Croatia | 2 | ||
| Gabrielle | N/A | Post-tropical cyclone | 25–29 September 2025 | Unspecified | NHC | Azores, Iberian Peninsula | Unspecified | |
| Amy | Detlef | Extratropical cyclone | 2–6 October 2025 | United Kingdom | United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Sweden | 4 | ||
| Barbara | N/A | Genoa Low | 5–10 October 2025 | Unspecified | Italy | Italy, the Balkans, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine | Unspecified | |
| Alice | N/A | DANA | 7–10 October 2025 | N/A | Spain | Eastern Spain and Balearic Islands | Unspecified | |
| Benjamin | Joshua | Extratropical cyclone | 22–26 October 2025 | France | United Kingdom, France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Norway | 1 | ||
| Lothar | FUB assigned | Extratropical cyclone | 26–31 October 2025 | Unspecified | Germany | United Kingdom, France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia | Unspecified | |
| Claudia | Pepe | Extratropical cyclone | 10–17 November 2025 | Unspecified | Spain | United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Portugal | 3 | |
| Wolfgang | FUB assigned | Extratropical cyclone | 24–27 November 2025 | Unspecified | Germany | Italy, the Balkans, Poland, Latvia | Unspecified | |
| Adel | N/A | Genoa Low | 25–30 November 2025 | Unspecified | Greece | Italy, Greece, Albania, Turkey | Unspecified | |
| Cassio | Dieter I | Extratropical cyclone | 3–5 December 2025 | Unspecified | Italy | Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Austria | Unspecified | |
| Byron | Dieter II | Extratropical cyclone | 4–9 December 2025 | Unspecified | Greece | Greece, Cyprus, Israel | 18+ | |
| Davide | Elias | Extratropical cyclone | 5–7 December 2025 | Unspecified | France | United Kingdom, France, Ireland | Unspecified | |
| Bram | Helmut | Shapiro-Keyser extratropical cyclone | 8–11 December 2025 | Ireland | United Kingdom, Ireland | Unspecified | ||
| Emilia | Jonathan | Extratropical depression | 11–15 December 2025 | Spain | Spain, Canary Islands, Portugal, Morocco | 37+ | ||
| Nils | FUB assigned | Extratropical cyclone | 20–26 December 2025 | Unspecified | Germany | France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia | Unspecified | |
| Johannes | Peda | Polar Low | 26–29 December 2025 | Sweden | Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania | 3 | ||
| Roman | FUB assigned | Polar Low | 27–31 December 2025 | Unspecified | Poland | Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland | 1 | |
| Anna | Tizian | Polar Low | Unspecified | Sweden | Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Benelux, the Baltics, United Kingdom | Unspecified | ||
| Francis | Ulli | Baroclinic extra-tropical cyclone | Portugal | the Azores, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Canary Islands, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, Greece, Croatia, the Balkans, Moldova, Romania, Ukraine | 8 | |||
| Goretti | Elli | Extratropical cyclone | 6–10 January 2026 | France | United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Spain | 2 | ||
| Harry | N/A | Extratropical cyclone | 16–23 January 2026 | Spain | Spain, Portugal, France, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy, Malta | 386+ | ||
| Ingrid | Leonie | Extratropical cyclone | 20–25 January 2026 | Unspecified | Portugal | United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland | Unspecified | |
| Joseph | Marilu | Extratropical cyclone | 25–28 January 2026 | Unspecified | Portugal | Azores, Portugal | 1 | |
| Chandra | Norma | Extratropical cyclone | 26–28 January 2026 | United Kingdom | United Kingdom, Ireland | 1 | ||
| Kristin | N/A | Extratropical cyclone | 27–31 January 2026 | Portugal | Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Italy, Greece, the Balkans, Ukraine, United Kingdom | 9 | ||
| Patricia | FUB assigned | Extratropical cyclone | 30 January–3 February 2026 | Unspecified | Germany | Italy, Croatia, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, the Balkans | Unspecified | |
| Leonardo | TBA | Extratropical cyclone | 2 February 2026–present | Unspecified | Unspecified | Spain | Spain, Portugal, United Kingdom | Unspecified |