At least 6 dead from the big storm in Europe

The second major storm hit northern Europe on Friday, February 18th, killing at least six people after strong winds swept down trees and canceled train services.

Weather service in the United Kingdom said a temporary, moderate wind at 122 mph (196 km/h), thought to be the strongest ever in England, was recorded as the Eunice storm swept over the country's south.

The storm is now pushing towards the European continent, prompting strong wind warnings in Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark and Germany.

The storm caused chaos with travel to Britain, closing the port of Doveri of English Mansch, closing bridges linking England to Wales, and stopping most trains in and outside London.

A woman about 30 died in London when a tree fell on a car, police and firefighters said three people were killed by the fall of trees in and around Amsterdam. In Wexford County, Ireland, an administration employee was killed as he responded to the scene of a fallen tree, the local council said.

In Belgium, an elderly man died when strong winds pushed him into a channel in Ypres. Police said he withdrew quickly, but his life could not be saved.

Eunice is the second storm to hit Europe this week, with the first storm that killed at least five people in Germany and Poland.

Peter Inness, a meteorologist at England's Reading University, attributed the storms to an extremely strong current over the eastern Atlantic Ocean with winds of about 200 mph (321 km) at high altitudes.

“There have been many cases in the recent past when two or more harmful storms have passed through the entire United Kingdom and other parts of Europe within a few days”, Innes said.

The Eunice storm hit Britain and Ireland on Friday (February 18th) with record winds of about 200 miles [200 km] per hour, cutting power for tens of thousands of people.

The storm has forced planes to avoid landing, removing trees, and destroying roofs throughout the country.

The storm hit western England, landing in Cornwall, where waves hit the coast, sending sprays on villa roofs, Reuters photos showed.

In Wales the waves ran over the Aberysth promenade, some as high as a house.

More than 100,000 people were hit by power outages, while lines were destroyed and ancient trees removed.

“The Eunice Storm is truly a blow,” said meteorologist Frank Saunders.

We issue red weather alarms only when we think there is a threat to life from the weather”, he said.

Meteorology's office said that the powerful wind (196 km) an hour) was recorded as a record for the most powerful storm ever recorded in England.

The planes were so hit by air currents at several airports that pilots were forced to avoid landings. The airlines canceled dozens of flights, while several flights demanded safer landings at other airports.

Such bad weather alarms in Britain are relatively rare. The last released was in November 2021.

The British government will hold an emergency response meeting to discuss response to the storm. / REL