Massive windstorm has struck Portugal on 23 December 2009

[littlevince]

In the early hours of 23 December a central region in Portugal was hit by a major windstorm. A low pressure area deepened to about 977hPa and winds made damages in a wide area. An official weather station measure 140km/h winds and an amateur station around 160km/h, but some damage indicate more powerful winds in some areas, maybe 220km/h or more.

Tens of thousands trees were broken, extensive damages to private and public properties, economic losses has not yet be calculated, but certainly the amount is several tens of million euros. Extensive damage to the electric grid that left 350,000 people without electricity for several days, including Christmas. Miraculously, the storm did not cause injuries or deaths.

Although the storm was expected, the intensity with this levels was not expected. For example, the GFS predicted a storm with 987hpa and apparently the low deepened to 977hpa. It is unknown at present if other phenomena also occurred, although our National Weather Service did not detected a tornado on radar. Any expert opinion or synoptic analyses is welcomed.

GFS (wrong) prediction
(Pressure, 10m and 850hpa Winds)





Satelite loop





Some pictures:
















Video:
http://videos.sapo.pt/eZkQjtmHIzZ7DVtU8ZFJ



More videos and pictures can be found here:
http://www.meteopt.com/forum/portugal/t ... 046-2.html
http://www.meteopt.com/forum/portugal/t ... -4046.html

[HURAKAN]

Very impressive windstorm. WOW