Cyclone Xaver
Encyclopedia
Xaver was a very strong European windstorm
that formed near the Azores
on November 22, 2011. The storm began producing heavy rain and snow over Northern Europe
on November 24 and 25. Scotland saw its first snowfall since March, earlier in the year. The Faroe Islands also reported winds up to 200 kilometres per hour (124.3 mph) and excessive damage. On November 25, the Norwegian Weather Service named the storm 'Berit'. Another storm, called Yoda, hit Scotland
just a day after Xaver.
on November 21, and by the next day, was named Xaver by the Free University of Berlin
. On November 23, the storm passed north-east of the United Kingdom
and to the south of the Faroe Islands
with a strong central pressure of 980 millibars. Xaver rapidly strengthened during the early hours of November 24, and had also developed an eye. During the late hours of November 25, Xaver began weakening as it approached the coast of Norway
.
. The UK Met Office
issued severe weather warnings for strong winds and heavy rain for the end of November. One woman died after her car got swept into a loch in Harris on November 25. A class II warning for Norway was issued by SMHI, which means there is a danger to the public. On November 26, Statoil
was forced to close three platforms due to high waves. Waves were expected to reach 15 meters along the Norwegian coastline. Twelve Caledonian MacBrayne
ferries were cancelled from the Western Isles. Staff members had to move below 2,000ft on Ben Nevis
as gale force winds forced the gondolas to close. Schools were closed on November 25 due to high winds. The Forth
, Skye
, Tay
, Erskine
, Friarton
and the Clackmannanshire Bridge had speed restrictions on November 25.
European windstorm
A European windstorm is a severe cyclonic windstorm associated with areas of low atmospheric pressure that track across the North Atlantic towards northwestern Europe. They are most common in the winter months...
that formed near the Azores
Azores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
on November 22, 2011. The storm began producing heavy rain and snow over Northern Europe
Northern Europe
Northern Europe is the northern part or region of Europe. Northern Europe typically refers to the seven countries in the northern part of the European subcontinent which includes Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and Sweden...
on November 24 and 25. Scotland saw its first snowfall since March, earlier in the year. The Faroe Islands also reported winds up to 200 kilometres per hour (124.3 mph) and excessive damage. On November 25, the Norwegian Weather Service named the storm 'Berit'. Another storm, called Yoda, hit Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
just a day after Xaver.
Meteorological history
A low pressure area formed south of the AzoresAzores
The Archipelago of the Azores is composed of nine volcanic islands situated in the middle of the North Atlantic Ocean, and is located about west from Lisbon and about east from the east coast of North America. The islands, and their economic exclusion zone, form the Autonomous Region of the...
on November 21, and by the next day, was named Xaver by the Free University of Berlin
Free University of Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
. On November 23, the storm passed north-east of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and to the south of the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
with a strong central pressure of 980 millibars. Xaver rapidly strengthened during the early hours of November 24, and had also developed an eye. During the late hours of November 25, Xaver began weakening as it approached the coast of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
.
Impact
The storm brought heavy snow over the mountains and large waves to the coastline of ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The UK Met Office
Met Office
The Met Office , is the United Kingdom's national weather service, and a trading fund of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
issued severe weather warnings for strong winds and heavy rain for the end of November. One woman died after her car got swept into a loch in Harris on November 25. A class II warning for Norway was issued by SMHI, which means there is a danger to the public. On November 26, Statoil
Statoil
Statoil ASA is a Norwegian petroleum company established in 1972. It merged with Norsk Hydro in 2007 and was known as StatoilHydro until 2009, when the name was changed back to Statoil ASA. The brand Statoil was retained as a chain of fuel stations owned by StatoilHydro...
was forced to close three platforms due to high waves. Waves were expected to reach 15 meters along the Norwegian coastline. Twelve Caledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne
Caledonian MacBrayne is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west coast...
ferries were cancelled from the Western Isles. Staff members had to move below 2,000ft on Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. It is located at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands, close to the town of Fort William....
as gale force winds forced the gondolas to close. Schools were closed on November 25 due to high winds. The Forth
Forth Road Bridge
The Forth Road Bridge is a suspension bridge in east central Scotland. The bridge, opened in 1964, spans the Firth of Forth, connecting the capital city Edinburgh, at South Queensferry, to Fife, at North Queensferry...
, Skye
Skye Bridge
The Skye Bridge is a road bridge over Loch Alsh, connecting mainland Highland with the Isle of Skye, Scotland. It forms part of the A87. The bridge is located at around , with one pillar standing on the island of Eilean Bàn....
, Tay
Tay Road Bridge
The Tay Road Bridge is a bridge across the Firth of Tay from Newport-on-Tay in Fife to Dundee in Scotland. At around , it is one of the longest road bridges in Europe, and slopes gradually downward towards Dundee...
, Erskine
Erskine Bridge
The Erskine Bridge is a cable-stayed box girder bridge spanning the River Clyde in west central Scotland, connecting West Dunbartonshire with Renfrewshire....
, Friarton
Friarton Bridge
The Friarton Bridge is a light weight concrete road bridge across the Firth of Tay on the southeastern outskirts of Perth, Scotland, approximately 20 miles upstream of the Tay Road Bridge...
and the Clackmannanshire Bridge had speed restrictions on November 25.