Weather in 2009

The weather in 2009 is predicted to be affected by El Nino. The Met Office predict that Europe's summer will be warmer and drier than average, as a result of anticyclone development.

Important weather events

Europe

Windstorm Klaus

Klaus was a European windstorm or cyclone which made landfall over large parts of central and southern France, Spain, Andorra and parts of Italy. The storm was the most damaging since Lothar in December 1999. The storm caused widespread damage across France and Spain, especially in northern Spain. Twenty-seven fatalities were recorded, as well as extensive disruptions to public transport and power supplies, with approximately 1.7 million homes in southwest France and tens of thousands of homes in Spain experiencing power cuts. Severe damage to property and major forest damage was caused. Peak gusts were over 200 km/h; sustained winds of over were observed, which are hurricane-force winds.

Western Europe snowfall

The snowfall across western Europe was a prolonged period of snowfall that began on 1 February 2009. Some areas experienced their largest snowfall levels in 18 years. Snow fell over much of Western Europe. The United Kingdom's Met Office and Ireland's Met Éireann issued severe weather warnings in anticipation of the snowfall. More than of snow fell on parts of the North Downs and over in parts of the London area. Such snow accumulation is uncommon in London. On the morning of 6 February the majority of Great Britain and Ireland had snow cover, with the area surrounding the Bristol Channel being most affected – had settled overnight around Okehampton, Devon. The last time such widespread snowfall affected Britain was in February 1991.