Joachim 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 were recorded on the summit of Puy de Dôme in France. Joachim explosively deepened under the influence of a shortwave trough during its development.

Impact

At least 400,000 people were without power in France. In

Brittany Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period ...

, 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. Major damage occurred on the Spanish coast. Roofs and trees were blown away, and all navigation on the Swiss lakes was closed. 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. 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 Valais ( , , ; frp, Valês; german: Wallis ), more formally the Canton of Valais,; german: Kanton Wallis; in other official Swiss languages outside Valais: it, (Canton) Vallese ; rm, (Chantun) Vallais. is one of the 26 cantons forming the S ...

were closed, as well as numerous roads and tunnels. Air traffic was affected.

Aftermath

According to Perils AG, property insurers may face costs of €300 million from the storm. TK-Bremen-1

References

{{European windstorms Joachim 2011 in Switzerland 2011 in France 2011 meteorology December 2011 events in Europe