Storm Poly
{{short description|Violent cyclone that affected Western Europe in July 2023}}
{{use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox storm
| image = Poly 2023-07-05 0652Z.jpg
| formed = 4 July 2023
| dissipated = 7 July 2023
| lowest pressure = 987
| gusts = 150 km/h (90 mph)
| damages = €50,000,000 (2023)
| fatalities = 2
| affected = * United Kingdom
| season = 2022–23 European windstorm season
}}
Storm Poly, also known as or Cyclone Poly,{{cite news |title=Ravage, verdriet en indrukwekkende plaatjes: de storm in foto's |url=https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/321517/ravage-verdriet-en-indrukwekkende-plaatjes-de-storm-in-fotos}} was an extremely violent European windstorm which affected Benelux, Germany, and the United Kingdom during July 2023. The thirty-seventh windstorm of the 2022–23 European windstorm season, Poly was named by the Free University of Berlin on 4 July. It later became the most intense summer storm to impact the Netherlands, bringing destructive gusts to the nation, peaking at {{convert|92|mph|km/h|abbr=on|disp=flip}} in IJmuiden.https://www.eumetsat.int/storm-poly{{Cite news |date=July 5, 2023 |title=Storm Poly – Strongest summer storm on record hits the Netherlands |url=https://watchers.news/2023/07/05/storm-poly-strongest-summer-storm-on-record-hits-the-netherlands/ |access-date=January 14, 2024 |work=Watchers}} In Germany, lesser winds of {{convert|50|-|60|mph|km/h|disp=flip}} were recorded.{{Cite news |date=July 5, 2023 |title=Rare, potent summer windstorm turns deadly in Netherlands and Germany |url=https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/rare-potent-summer-windstorm-turns-deadly-in-netherlands-and-germany/1553641/amp |access-date=January 15, 2024 |work=AccuWeather}} In total, two fatalities occurred: one in the Netherlands, and another in Germany.{{Cite web |last=NDR |title=Sturmtief "Poly": Bahnverkehr stabilisiert sich nach Unwetter |url=https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/info/Sturmtief-Poly-Bahnverkehr-stabilisiert-sich-nach-Unwetter,unwetter4008.html |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=www.ndr.de |language=de}} Poly caused at least {{Currency|50000000|EUR}} (2023) in damages.{{Cite web |last=Sanou |first=Hanneke |date=2023-07-06 |title=Damage done by Poly estimated at €50-100m but could be higher |url=https://www.dutchnews.nl/2023/07/damage-done-by-poly-estimated-at-e50-100m-but-could-be-higher/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=DutchNews.nl |language=en-GB}} There was a mild storm surge in the Netherlands due to Poly, which caused limited floodings in combination with a large amount of precipitation.
Preparations and impacts
= The Netherlands =
The Netherlands was affected the most by the storm.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-05 |title=Poly is zwaarste zomerstorm ooit gemeten |url=https://www.weer.nl/nieuws/2023/zwaarste-zomerstorm-ooit-gemeten |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=Weer.nl |language=nl}} A red wind warning was issued for the provinces of North Holland, Flevoland and Friesland as strong gusts were expected.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-05 |title=Waarom zo laat naar code rood? 'Pas om 07.00 uur duidelijk hoe erg het werd' |url=https://nos.nl/artikel/2481548-waarom-zo-laat-naar-code-rood-pas-om-07-00-uur-duidelijk-hoe-erg-het-werd |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=nos.nl |language=nl}} In the Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, around 400 flights were canceled.{{Cite web |title=Chaos op Schiphol: 400 vluchten geschrapt, tientallen vliegtuigen kunnen niet landen |url=https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/321476/chaos-op-schiphol-400-vluchten-geschrapt-tientallen-vliegtuigen-kunnen-niet-landen |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=www.nhnieuws.nl |language=nl}} Hundreds were stranded in Amsterdam's central station since several domestic and overseas rail services were cancelled.{{Cite web |title=Two dead as strongest summer storm blasts Netherlands, Germany |url=https://phys.org/news/2023-07-dead-strongest-summer-storm-blasts.html |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=phys.org |language=en}} Hurricane-force winds were measured in the province of Noord-Holland, causing large amounts of destruction. Poly was the first very severe storm in the Netherlands since the 18th of January 2018 and the strongest storm since 1990 in general. It was also the first very severe storm in the summer, obliterating all previous records. Poly was also responsible for local floodings in the Netherlands. {{cite web |title=Van open sluis naar zeiknat huis! Storm Poly zorgt voor ondergelopen schuren in Hoorn |url=https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/321479/van-open-sluis-naar-zeiknat-huis-storm-poly-zorgt-voor-ondergelopen-schuren-in-hoorn}} Over 25,000 people lost electricity due to Storm Poly. {{cite web |title=Duizenden huishoudens zonder stroom door storm Poly |url=https://www.nhnieuws.nl/nieuws/321496/duizenden-huishoudens-zonder-stroom-door-storm-poly}}
= Germany =
The Deutscher Wetterdienst issued a level-three red warning for most of northern Germany, including Hamburg.{{Cite web |title=Weather tracker: Storm Poly lashes Germany and the Netherlands {{!}} Netherlands {{!}} The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/07/weather-tracker-storm-poly-germany-netherlands |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=amp.theguardian.com}} High-speed rail services to Cologne and Hamburg were cut off. Additionally, some ferries from Germany to islands off the north coast were canceled, while powerful gusts toppled trees, disrupting a line between Hamburg and Sylt.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-05 |title=Storm Poly lashes the Netherlands and parts of Germany, causing 2 deaths and canceled flights |url=https://apnews.com/article/storm-netherlands-airport-flights-f9c7ca4b1fce85a66cd16e1f037ec698 |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=AP News |language=en}}
= United Kingdom And Belgium =
The precursor low-pressure area to Poly would produce heavy rain for East Anglia, causing a game in Wimbledon to be postponed.{{Cite web |title=Wimbledon rain turns into Storm Poly with midweek red wind warnings for the Netherlands |url=https://www.netweather.tv/weather-forecasts/news/12037-wimbledon-rain-turns-into-storm-poly-with-midweek-red-wind-warnings-for-the-netherlands |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=www.netweather.tv |language=en}} In Belgium, the Royal Meteorological Institute issued a code-yellow alert for all of the Flemish provinces, excluding Flemish Brabant, on July 5.{{Cite web |last=Times |first=The Brussels |title=Code yellow extended in Flanders and Liège until Wednesday evening |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/587785/code-yellow-extended-in-flanders-and-liege-until-wednesday-evening |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=www.brusselstimes.com |language=en}} When Poly affected Belgium, it primarily brought severe thunderstorms and locally intense gusts to the nation.{{Cite web |last=Colin |first=Clapson |date=2023-07-05 |title=Code yellow weather warning in Flanders |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2023/07/05/code-yellow-for-squalls-in-flanders-code-red-in-the-netherlands/ |access-date=2024-01-15 |website=vrtnws.be |language=en}}
Highest wind gust per country
References
{{reflist}}
{{European windstorm seasons}}
Category:2023 disasters in Europe
Category:2023 disasters in the United Kingdom
Category:2023 floods in Europe
Category:2020s floods in the United Kingdom
Category:Weather events in the United Kingdom
Category:Weather events in Belgium