Benjamin the third official "storm" to hit the Netherlands this autumn; fifth this year
Benjamin officially became the third autumnal storm to hit the Netherlands this season. To be categorized as a storm, the wind force must be sustained at level nine on the Beaufort scale, which means a minimum of 75 kilometers per hour. The strongest gust recorded by 10 p.m. on Thursday was 106 km/h, according to national meteorological center KNMI.
The storm designation became official on the Houtribdijk, a dike spanning the distance from Enkhuizen in Noord-Holland to Lelystad in Flevoland, according to WeerOnline. The dike separates the IJsselmeer, a lake north of the embankment, from the Markermeer, the lake to the south.
Benjamin was confirmed as the fifth storm since the start of the year at the weather station on the Houtribdijk from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. The location also measured the strong 106 km/h gust of wind. To be categorized as a storm, average sustained wind speeds must remain at level nine for at least 60 minutes, starting at the top of any given hour.
The office issued a Code Orange weather warning for the storm in the western provinces, and it was expected to remain in effect until about 2 a.m. on Friday in Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, and the region around the IJsselmeer. It was due to expire six hours later in the Wadden Islands.
Large portions of the Netherlands were likely to remain under the milder Code Yellow warning at least into mid-morning on Friday, with flight cancellations and delays continuing on the second day of gusty weather.
The Netherlands had its first storm of the year on New Year's Day, and then Floriane struck days later on January 6. The first autumnal storm took place on September 15, followed by Storm Amy, which made landfall on October 4.
When sustained winds range from 89 to 102 km/h for an entire hour, the system is categorized as a severe storm. A very severe, or violent storm is designated when winds range from 103 to 117 km/h. The measurement only counts towards official records when it lasts for 60 minutes from the moment a new hour begins.
Conall was the last severe storm to hit the Netherlands, which struck on Nov. 27, 2024, causing over 40 million euros in damages. It held wind speeds of 94 km/h for a one-hour period with a maximum gust of 130 km/h.
The last violent storm was Poly on July 5, 2023, with sustained winds of 108 km/h, and a peak gust of 148 km/h. That incident caused about 63 million euros in damages.
