Storm Conall becomes first official "severe" storm to hit the Netherlands in 16 months

Storm Conall was officially designated a severe storm in the Netherlands on Wednesday evening, after sustained winds averaged at level ten on the Beaufort wind force scale. That ranges from 88 to 101 kilometers per hour, an average recorded on the island of Vlieland from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., according to Weeronline. It was the first severe storm since Poly made landfall on July 5, 2023.

The Netherlands has had 69 storms designated as either severe or very severe since 1910, when wind measurements were recorded regularly. So far, Conall has brought wind gusts of 128 km/h on Vlieland, and 121 km/h at the coastal town of Stavoren, Friesland, the weather website reported. That is far shy of Storm Poly's peak gust of 146 km/h in IJmuiden.

Storm Conall already became the second official autumn storm to hit the Netherlands this year, when the average wind force measured in IJmuiden held at level nine on the Beaufort scale. The wind at the coastal city remained between 75 and 87 kilometers per hour from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., making the “storm” designation official. The heaviest wind gust recorded that hour was also in IJmuiden, when a gust of wind blew past at 114 kilometers per hour.

The wind was expected to gradually decrease in many parts of the country, though it will still remain strong around the Wadden Islands as Wednesday evening continues. Very heavy gusts of 120 to 130 kilometers per hour were predicted for coastal areas, and gusts of 100 to 110 kilometers per hour were possible a bit further inland.

Towards the end of September, Storm Aitor also brought sustained winds at level nine on the Beaufort scale. That was measured in IJmuiden, making it this year's fifth storm, and the first in the autumn season. A hectic start to the year saw Storm Henk make landfall on January 2, Storm Isha on January 22, and Storm Jocelyn two days later. An unnamed summer storm also hit on July 6, generating average wind speeds at level nine for a period of two hours, WeerOnline noted.

Dutch meteorological service KNMI issued a Code Orange weather warning because of the expected gusts of wind from Storm Conall on Wednesday. The more severe warning was in effect for the northern half of the country, and a milder Code Yellow warning was issued in Gelderland, Utrecht and Zuid-Holland. No warnings were issued for the three southern provinces.

The storm caused various issues around the Netherlands as it made landfall. At one point, traffic jams on national roadways approached a peak of 974 kilometers per hour.

Several train routes were also running on an adjusted schedule because of the storm, national railway NS said. Although the weather was not named as a cause of any specific rail incidents by 7 p.m., the NS was also contending with broken down trains hindering service between Rotterdam, Dordrecht and Breda on both the normal and high-speed tracks.

Airlines operating at Schiphol Airport also cancelled 64 departing flights and 54 arriving flights, as of 7 p.m. Hundreds more also faced delays.

Additionally, different ferry services to and from the Wadden Islands faced disruption because of the storm, ANP reported. Doeksen cancelled express ferries in both directions between Terschelling and Harlingen, and also in each direction between Schiermonnikoog and Lauwersoog.

The ferry service between Den Helder and Texel was also suspended starting with the 7 p.m. departure from the island. “As soon as the possibility arises, the service will be resumed,” the ferry company stated. Passengers were advised to keep checking the TESO website for updated information about scheduled service.