Cyclone Joachim
{{Short description|2011 European windstorm}}
{{Infobox storm
| name = Cyclone Joachim
| image location = Visualisation_de_fichier_NOAA-GFS_dans_zyGrib_pour_la_tempête_Joachim_du_15_décembre_2011.png
| image caption =
| image name = Wind map of the storm Joachim approaching the French coast on 15 December 2011
| alt =
| stormtype = European windstorm
extratropical cyclone
| date formed = 15 December 2011
| date dissipated = 22 December 2011
| pressure = 966 mbar
| sustained wind =
| gust = {{convert|212|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| areas affected = British Isles, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland
}}
Joachim{{cite web|title=2011 Low Pressure Area naming lists|url=http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/adopt-a-vortex/tief2011/|publisher=FU-Berlin|access-date=27 December 2011}} is the name given to a European windstorm which caused major damage in much of Western Europe between December 16–17, 2011. Winds gusting to {{convert|212|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} were recorded on the summit of Puy de Dôme in France.{{cite news|title=La tempête Joachim des 15 et 16 décembre 2011|url=http://france.meteofrance.com/france/actu/actu?document_id=26158&portlet_id=78817|access-date=28 December 2011|newspaper=Meteo France|date=16 December 2011}}{{cite web|title=Severe Storm Joachim Unleashes Hurricane Force Winds|url=http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/new-storm-set-to-lash-france/59039|publisher=accuweather.com|access-date=13 February 2012|archive-date=17 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117205101/http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/new-storm-set-to-lash-france/59039|url-status=dead}} Joachim explosively deepened under the influence of a shortwave trough during its development.{{cite journal|last1=Karremann|first1=Melanie K.|last2=Liberato|first2=Margarida L. R.|last3=Ordóñez|first3=Paulina|last4=Pinto|first4=Joaquim G.|title=Characterization of synoptic conditions and cyclones associated with top ranking potential wind loss events over Iberia|journal=Atmospheric Science Letters|date=June 2016|volume=17|issue=6|pages=354–361|doi=10.1002/asl.665|bibcode=2016AtScL..17..354K|url=https://publikationen.bibliothek.kit.edu/1000055458/3854408|doi-access=free}}
Impact
At least 400,000 people were without power in France.{{cite news|title=STORM CAUSES BLACKOUT IN NORTH-WEST OF FRANCE|url=http://www.agi.it/english-version/world/elenco-notizie/201112161526-cro-ren1057-storm_causes_blackout_in_north_west_of_france|access-date=27 December 2011|newspaper=AGI|date=16 December 2011|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130218113117/http://www.agi.it/english-version/world/elenco-notizie/201112161526-cro-ren1057-storm_causes_blackout_in_north_west_of_france|archive-date=18 February 2013|url-status=dead}} In Brittany, on the north-western coast of France, the cargo ship TK Bremen was blown aground. The nineteen-man crew was evacuated by helicopter, and the ship later disassembled.[http://www.francetv.fr/info/le-passage-de-la-tempete-joachim-en-images_39993.html Coverage on francetv.fr]
Major damage occurred on the Spanish coast.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
Roofs and trees were blown away, and all navigation on the Swiss lakes was closed.{{cite web|title=Storm Joachim arrives in Switzerland|url=http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss_news/Storm_Joachim_arrives_in_Switzerland.html?cid=31776866|publisher=swissinfo.ch|access-date=13 February 2012}} In the canton of Bern, a tree fell onto the railway line between Tramelan and Tavannes. This caused a train to derail, and its forward cars fell into the forest; three passengers suffered minor injuries.{{citation needed|date=January 2022}}
The wind was followed by polar air, and the rain turning to snow at high altitudes and descending into the plain caused serious conditions. Most of the major ski resorts in Valais were closed, as well as numerous roads and tunnels.
Aftermath
According to Perils AG, property insurers may face costs of €300 million from the storm.{{cite news|title=Storm Joachim May Cost Insurers 300 Million Euros, Perils Says|newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=26 January 2012 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-26/storm-joachim-may-cost-insurers-300-million-euros-perils-says.html|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=13 February 2012}}
== See also ==
References
{{reflist}}
{{European windstorms}}