Storm Ciara facts for kids
Satellite imagery of Ciara off the East Coast of the United States on 7 February
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| Type | Extratropical cyclone European windstorm |
|---|---|
| Formed | 3 February 2020 |
| Dissipated | 16 February 2020 |
| Lowest pressure | 943 mb (27.85 inHg) |
| Highest gust | 136 mph (219 km/h) at Cap Corse, Corsica, France |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | Snow – 23.5 in (60 cm) at Warren, Vermont |
| Damage | At least £1.6 billion (€1.9 billion) |
| Power outages | >1,185,000 |
| Total fatalities | 17 fatalities |
| Areas affected | Southern United States, Northeastern United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Isle of Man, Northern Europe, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Central Europe, Spain, Faroe Islands |
Storm Ciara was a very strong and long-lasting storm. It was the first of two big storms to hit the United Kingdom and Ireland in early February 2020. The second storm, Storm Dennis, arrived just a week later. Ciara caused a lot of wind damage and flooding across many parts of Europe. Sadly, it also led to 17 people losing their lives.
This storm started over the North Atlantic Ocean. It grew very quickly and became much stronger, a process called explosive cyclogenesis. Weather experts issued warnings for the UK and Ireland on February 4th, even before the storm arrived. The Met Office officially named it Ciara the next day. It was the twelfth named storm of the 2019–20 European windstorm season. Ciara reached northern Scotland on February 9th and Norway on February 10th.
Before Ciara became a big storm, it was a smaller weather system called Winter Storm Kade in North America. This system brought heavy snow to places like Newfoundland, New England, and New York. Further south, in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S., it caused flooding and even some tornadoes.
What was Storm Ciara?
Storm Ciara was an extratropical cyclone. This is a type of storm system that forms outside of the tropics. These storms get their energy from the temperature differences between warm and cold air. They can bring strong winds, heavy rain, and sometimes snow. Ciara was also known as a European windstorm because of its strong winds across Europe.
How did Ciara affect Europe?
The biggest impacts from Storm Ciara were felt in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The storm hit these countries over the weekend of February 8th and 9th. It brought very strong winds and a lot of rain. This caused serious damage and widespread flooding. Three people sadly died in the UK because of the storm.
As Ciara moved across northern Europe, its strong winds spread over a very large area. Eight more people lost their lives in different countries across mainland Europe. This included places as far away as Slovenia. The storm caused a lot of disruption, including power outages and travel problems.
Strongest Winds Recorded
Storm Ciara brought incredibly strong winds to many countries. Here are some of the highest wind gusts recorded:
| Country | Max. Gust | Location |
|---|---|---|
 United Kingdom |
176 km/h | Capel Curig |
 Ireland |
154 km/h | Sligo |
 Germany |
173 km/h | Brocken |
 Austria |
149 km/h | Hinterer Brunnenkogel |
 France |
219 km/h | Cap Corse |
 Netherlands |
130 km/h | Vlieland |
 Poland |
146 km/h | Władysławowo |
 Italy |
164 km/h | Lignano Sabbiadoro |
 Norway |
175 km/h | Henningsvær |
 Sweden |
136 km/h | Smögen |
 Denmark |
134 km/h | Thyborøn |
 Switzerland |
155 km/h | Säntis |
 Belgium |
130 km/h | Ostend |
