Storm Poly, also known as Hurricane Poly or Cyclone Poly,[1] was an extremely violent European windstorm which affected Benelux, Germany, and the United Kingdom during July 2023. The thirty-seventh windstorm of the 2022–23 European windstorm season, Poly was named by the Free University of Berlin on 4 July. It later became the most intense summer storm to impact the Netherlands, bringing destructive gusts to the nation, peaking at 148 km/h (92 mph) in IJmuiden.[2][3][4] In Germany, lesser winds of 80–97 kilometres per hour (50–60 mph) were recorded.[5] The combination of a high SST and a low amount of wind shear in the North Sea were most likely responsible for Poly to rapidly intensify in the first category 1 hurricane ever measured in the North Sea. In total, two fatalities occurred: one in the Netherlands,[6] and another in Germany.[7] Poly caused at least €50,000,000 (2023) in damages.[8] There was a mild storm surge in the Netherlands due to Poly, which caused limited floodings in combination with a large amount of precipitation.
 Poly at its record peak intensity, making landfall in the Netherlands. | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 4 July 2023 |
| Dissipated | 7 July 2023 |
| Category 1-equivalent tropical cyclone | |
| 1-minute sustained (SSHWS) | |
| Highest winds | 120 km/h (75 mph) |
| Highest gusts | 150 km/h (90 mph) |
| Lowest pressure | 987 hPa (mbar); 29.15 inHg |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 2 |
| Missing | None |
| Damage | €50 million - €100 million |
| Areas affected | United Kingdom, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany |
Preparations and impacts
editThe Netherlands
editThe Netherlands was affected the most by the storm.[4] A red wind warning was issued for the provinces of North Holland, Flevoland and Friesland as strong gusts were expected.[9] In the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, around 400 flights were canceled.[10] Hundreds were stranded in Amsterdam's central station since several domestic and overseas rail services were cancelled.[6] Hurricane-force winds were measured in the province of Noord-Holland, causing large amounts of destruction. Poly was the first very severe storm in the Netherlands since the 18th of January 2018 and the strongest storm since 1990 in general. It was also the first very severe storm in the summer, obliterating all previous records. Poly was also responsible for local floodings in the Netherlands. [11] Over 25,000 people lost electricity due to hurricane Poly. [12]
Germany
editThe Deutscher Wetterdienst issued a level-three red warning for most of northern Germany, including Hamburg.[13] High-speed rail services to Cologne and Hamburg were cut off.[6] Additionally, some ferries from Germany to islands off the north coast were canceled, while powerful gusts toppled trees, disrupting a line between Hamburg and Sylt.[14]
Elsewhere
editThe precursor low-pressure area to Poly would produce heavy rain for East Anglia, causing a game in Wimbledon to be postponed.[15] In Belgium, the Royal Meteorological Institute issued a code-yellow alert for all of the Flemish provinces, excluding Flemish Brabant, on July 5.[16] When Poly affected Belgium, it primarily brought severe thunderstorms and locally intense gusts to the nation.[17]
Highest wind gust per country
edit| Country | Gust | Location |
|---|---|---|
 Belgium
|
114 km/h (71 mph) | De Panne |
 Germany
|
119 km/h (74 mph) | Leuchtturm Alte Weser |
 Netherlands
|
148 km/h (92 mph) | IJmuiden |
 United Kingdom
|
150 km/h (93 mph) | Lowestoft |
References
edit- ^ "Ravage, verdriet en indrukwekkende plaatjes: de storm in foto's".
- ^ https://www.eumetsat.int/storm-poly
- ^ "Storm Poly – Strongest summer storm on record hits the Netherlands". Watchers. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
- ^ a b "Poly is zwaarste zomerstorm ooit gemeten". Weer.nl (in Dutch). 5 July 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Rare, potent summer windstorm turns deadly in Netherlands and Germany". AccuWeather. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ a b c "Two dead as strongest summer storm blasts Netherlands, Germany". phys.org. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ NDR. "Sturmtief "Poly": Bahnverkehr stabilisiert sich nach Unwetter". www.ndr.de (in German). Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ Sanou, Hanneke (6 July 2023). "Damage done by Poly estimated at €50-100m but could be higher". DutchNews.nl. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Waarom zo laat naar code rood? 'Pas om 07.00 uur duidelijk hoe erg het werd'". nos.nl (in Dutch). 5 July 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Chaos op Schiphol: 400 vluchten geschrapt, tientallen vliegtuigen kunnen niet landen". www.nhnieuws.nl (in Dutch). Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Van open sluis naar zeiknat huis! Storm Poly zorgt voor ondergelopen schuren in Hoorn".
- ^ "Duizenden huishoudens zonder stroom door storm Poly".
- ^ "Weather tracker: Storm Poly lashes Germany and the Netherlands | Netherlands | The Guardian". amp.theguardian.com. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Storm Poly lashes the Netherlands and parts of Germany, causing 2 deaths and canceled flights". AP News. 5 July 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ "Wimbledon rain turns into Storm Poly with midweek red wind warnings for the Netherlands". www.netweather.tv. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ Times, The Brussels. "Code yellow extended in Flanders and Liège until Wednesday evening". www.brusselstimes.com. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
- ^ Colin, Clapson (5 July 2023). "Code yellow weather warning in Flanders". vrtnws.be. Retrieved 15 January 2024.