Friday, February 3, 2017

Damaging winds to whip across France and Spain into this weekend


By Eric Leister, AccuWeather meteorologist
February 3,2017, 4:53:03PM,EST
 
 
Additional rounds of damaging winds and heavy rain will lash France, Spain and northern Portugal this weekend as the parade of storms from the Atlantic Ocean continues.
Locations across northern Spain, northern Portugal and western and central France will be at the greatest risk for travel disruption as powerful winds howl each day through Sunday.
The one exception will be across the Brittany region of northwestern France, where there will be less wind on Saturday as the next storm blasts into France farther to the south. How far north the following storm tracks on Sunday will determine whether the region will endure another round of strong winds to end the weekend.
The windiest period for Paris will be on Friday evening, but periods of rain will follow for this weekend as the damaging wind risk takes aim at communities to the south.
Wind gusts Feb 3
In coastal locations in western France, northern Spain and northwestern Portugal, wind gusts could reach 130 km/h (81 mph) during the height of the storms. Winds of this magnitude can result in widespread power outages and damage to trees and homes.
"The winds can ground planes for a time and knock over high-profile vehicles," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.
Strong winds will also lash Madrid this weekend. Gusts of 65 to 80 km/h (40 to 50 mph) will occur each day with higher gusts in the mountains to the north of the city.
"Sunday is likely to be the windiest day of this stormy pattern for central and eastern Spain," Pydynowski said. "Wind gusts of 80-100 km/h (50-60 mph) threaten to cause power outages and tree damage from Zaragoza to Lleida, as well as in Murcia."
Related:
France Weather Center
Western Europe Weather Radar
Spain Weather Center

The higher terrain to the west should work to shelter Barcelona from the strongest winds, but there can still be gusts between 65 and 80 km/h (40 and 50 mph).
Along with the threat for damaging winds, wind-driven rain will pound the same communities this weekend.
The greatest threat for flooding will be across northern Portugal and northwestern Spain where rainfall totals, starting with the rain that arrived on Thursday night, of 75-150 mm (3-6 inches) will be common with local amounts exceeding 200 mm (8 inches).
Locations in western and central France can expect 25-75 mm (1-3 inches) of rain through Sunday, prompting localized flooding.
Storm Train Feb 3

"Heavy snow, totaling more than a half of a meter (2 feet) will bury the peaks of the Pyrenees this weekend with substantial snow also developing over the mountains of northwestern Spain on Sunday," Pydynowski said.
“These storms will also bring a high risk for coastal flooding, especially during high tide,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys.
“Dangerous seas will persist across the Bay of Biscay through Sunday with waves over 9 meters (30 feet) at times,” Roys added.
Additional unsettled weather is expected across France and Spain next week. However, the threat for damaging winds and flooding will lessen.

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