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The storm Babet (known as tormenta Viktor in Germany) was an intense extratropical cyclone that affected large parts of northern and western Europe. The second named storm of the 2023–24 European windstorm season, Babet, was named by the United Kingdom Met Office on 16 October 2023.
Weather history
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On 20 October, in some parts of Denmark the water level was more than two meters above normal, with a water level of 2.16 m (7 ft 1 in) measured in Aabenraa and Hesnæs, and many parts of Aabenraa They had to be evacuated. At Sønderborg, the storm surge was the highest since 1904, with a water level 2.10 m (6 ft 11 in) above normal, and was the highest since records began in 1892 at Gedser with a height of 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) above normal.
Due to the storm, 142 flights were canceled at Copenhagen Airport. Køge consistently had a water level of 1 m (3 ft 3 in) for most of the storm, especially in the central area. Evacuation of all coastal areas in Haderslev Municipality was ordered, as many areas were on the verge of flooding. On October 20, a wind gust of 122 km/h (34 m/s) was recorded in Nordborg.
The massive Lolland dam that runs from parts of Lolland to Falster was also on the verge of collapse when the storm nearly crushed the old dam.
Bornholm was also not a safe city, even though the water level was lower than elsewhere. Allinge-Sandvig and Tejn were the worst affected towns, with roads destroyed by the storm. Many houses were destroyed or damaged by water, and some houses were even washed away. Bornholm fared better than the rest of Denmark, but the coastal and fishing towns fell into disrepair after that.
On October 19, a 33-year-old woman died on the German island of Fehmarn when her car was hit by a falling tree. In Schleswig-Holstein, around 2,000 people were evacuated due to a storm surge. Brodersby, Eckernförde and Schleswig were among the places affected by the evacuations. In Flensburg, water levels reached 2.27 m (7 ft 5 in) above the usual level. The head of the Schleswig-Holstein Interior Ministry’s disaster control department, Ralf Kirchhoff, said he expects flood damage to be in the triple-digit million range.
A wind gust of 33 m/s (120 km/h; 74 mph) was recorded in Feldberg, Schwarzwald on October 21.
On October 17, the roofs of the terminal building at Faro Airport, Portugal, collapsed after 59.2 mm (2.33 in) of rain fell in the area and caused flooding. Roofs were torn off houses in Castro Marim.
On October 21, 22,700 people were left without power in southern Norway, according to [[[Agder Energi]]after strong winds caused damage to homes, electricity poles and trees. Provincial Highway 55 was closed due to the storm and several planes had to cancel their landings at Kristiansand Airport after winds reached 40 m/s (140 km/h).
On 18 October, Storm Babet hit Torbay, washing a beach bar into the sea in Torquay and causing extensive damage to beach huts in Paignton and Teignmouth, where a seaside skate park was flooded.
On 19 October, the body of a 57-year-old woman was recovered from the River North Esk in Angus, Scotland, after she was swept into the Water of Lee. A tree collided with a van on the B9127 road at Whigstreet, Angus, killing the 56-year-old driver. 335 homes in Brechin were asked to evacuate after heavy rain caused fears that the River South Esk could burst its banks, and a further 87 homes in Tannadice and Finavon were also asked to evacuate. Roker Pier in Sunderland was damaged by waves and winds, with several meters of railings destroyed and sections of the platform around the lighthouse washed away.
On 20 October, a man died in Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire, after being swept away by flood waters. Two women have died in a crash involving four cars and a truck which overturned in high winds on the M4 motorway. Police began searching for a man who was trapped inside a vehicle in flood waters near Marykirk, Aberdeenshire, and searches continued until 23 October, when he was found dead inside his vehicle. In South Shields, the Tyne South Pier light lost its top during the storm.
On October 21, a woman in her 80s was found dead in her home in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, after flooding. In Catcliffe, South Yorkshire, 250 homes were evacuated after the River Rother flooded. 45 workers were airlifted from the Stena Spey drilling platform in the North Sea by Her Majesty’s Coast Guard after four of the platform’s eight anchors became dislodged due to severe weather. Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) said it had restored power to around 36,000 customers, with 700 properties remaining waiting to have their power restored. Other power outages included 40,000 Northern Powergrid customers and 14,000 Scottish Power customers.
On 22 October, around 500 homes in Retford were urged to evacuate due to high water levels in the River Idle, prompting two severe flood warnings for the area. A sinkhole appeared at the eponymous Bridge of Dun in Angus.
Throughout the duration of the storm, northeastern beaches suffered severe erosion that left them exposed and vulnerable to remaining winter storms. The severity of this change was attributed in part to the duration of the storm, with waves over 4 m high for over 72 hours. In East Lothian, the Musselburgh coastline suffered a major impact: around 4,000 cubic meters of sediment was removed from its beaches, equivalent to approximately 5 years of erosion in a single event.
Travel disruption
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On October 20, a large plane skidded off the runway while landing at Leeds Bradford Airport, causing the airport to close. All passengers on board the TUI flight from Corfu were safely evacuated from the plane and the airport reopened at 11:30 BST the following day. The storm caused the suspension of the Shields ferry until October 22.
The storm caused severe travel disruption after many roads were closed and railways were flooded. On 21 October, King’s Cross railway station in central London was closed due to overcrowding caused by the disruption. Avanti West Coast, LNER and Northern Trains advised passengers to avoid traveling after their lines were widely flooded. Flooding between Doncaster and Wakefield caused “extremely limited service” and there were no LNER services running north of Edinburgh, with no rail replacement services available due to road closures. Northern said all lines between Cheadle Hulme and Wilmslow were blocked due to damage to overhead power lines, and services were not running from Sheffield to Nottingham or Lincoln due to flooding. Trains were unable to travel between Leeds and Bradford, Doncaster and Harrogate; and the line between Newcastle and Morpeth was closed after damage to a viaduct. Avanti West Coast asked customers not to travel between Crewe and North Wales.
Movement of seabirds
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Storm Babet displaced record numbers of seabirds into the Firth of Forth; These were mainly European storm-petrels, but there were also Leach’s storm-petrels, gray phalaropes and lesser auks.
The Met Office, the UK’s national weather service, announced that it would review its warnings as a result of flooding in Suffolk and Norfolk. Only a yellow warning was issued for the area, but Suffolk County Council declared a major incident following severe flooding.
In light of the potential for climate change to intensify storms like Babet, what specific adaptations and mitigation strategies should coastal communities prioritize to enhance their resilience?
Here are some open-ended questions for a discussion about the 2023 North Sea Storm Babet based on the provided text, divided into thematic sections:
**I. Impact and Destruction**
* The article describes significant coastal damage across various countries. Which region or community do you think was most affected, and why? What factors make some areas more vulnerable to these types of storms?
* The storm caused widespread flooding, infrastructure damage, and power outages. How does such an event highlight the interconnectedness of our daily lives and how vulnerable our infrastructure can be?
**II. Human Consequences**
* Sadly, there were fatalities reported due to the storm. What does this tell us about the importance of preparedness and early warning systems for extreme weather events?
* Beyond the immediate physical dangers, what are some of the longer-term social and economic consequences people might face after such a storm? Consider things like displacement, mental health, and rebuilding efforts.
**III. Climate Change Connection**
* Scientists warn that climate change is likely to lead to more frequent and intense storms. How might Storm Babet be seen as a glimpse into a future with more extreme weather events?
* What actions can individuals, communities, and governments take to mitigate the impacts of climate change and better prepare for future storms?
**IV. Response and Recovery**
* The article mentions various organizations and individuals involved in the response to the storm: emergency services, rescue teams, government agencies, and even volunteers. What makes successful disaster response and recovery possible?
**V. Movement of Wildlife**
* The article mentions the unusual movement of seabirds due to the storm. What does this tell us about the wider ecological impacts of such events? How might ecosystems be affected in the long term?
**VI. Lessons Learned and Future Preparedness**
* The Met Office is reviewing its warnings based on the Suffolk and Norfolk flooding. What does this suggest about the challenges of predicting and communicating about extreme weather?
* What lessons can be learned from Storm Babet that could help improve future preparedness and response efforts for similar events?
**VII. Global Perspective**
* While this article focuses on Europe, how does Storm Babet connect to broader global challenges related to climate change, rising sea levels, and extreme weather?
These questions are designed to stimulate discussion, encourage critical thinking, and explore the multi-faceted impacts of Storm Babet.
