Eunice may be the first ‘severe storm’ since 2020. To receive that title from the KNMI, the wind force must be higher than 10 on the Beaufort scale for an hour longer. Although Eunice is the third storm in a few weeks to be issued a weather warning – and therefore given a name – the number of severe storms has not increased in recent years. Climate change has no influence on this, says the KNMI.
The last severe storm in the Netherlands, Ciara, with wind force 10, took place on 9 February 2020. The last time wind force 11 was measured was in 2018. Storms were not given names yet. Once there was wind force 12, on September 7, 1944. Then the average speed for one hour was 122 kilometers per hour. According to the KNMI, such a storm leads to devastation.
In 1805 the Irishman Francis Beaufort based the wind force on the amount of sail a large ship could carry in a breeze, storm or hurricane. Nowadays, the speed of the wind is measured, in meters per second or kilometers per hour.
The KNMI predicts wind gusts of 100 to 120 kilometers per hour in the interior for Friday afternoon, and up to 130 kilometers per hour on the coast. If the average speed exceeds 89 kilometers per hour for ten minutes, then there is wind force 10, above 103 wind force 11. At wind force 10, the KNMI expects ‘major damage’ to buildings and adults could be blown over. Wind force 11 can cause ‘enormous damage’ to forests.
Wind force 9 was measured during storm Dudley, which moved across the country on Wednesday and Thursday. In addition, chimney caps and roof tiles can blow away; children can also be blown over.
