Authorities Warn Germans To Prepare For Kyrill - Top Winds Of 112 Mph Expected - Reuters

[hatrack]

BERLIN - Germans were told to stay indoors and many schools across the country closed early on Thursday as a rare hurricane bore down on the country, cutting air traffic at its biggest airport by half. Germany's DWD meteorogical service said the storm "Kyrill" could generate winds of up to 180 km/h (112 mph) in high and exposed areas and as much as 130 km/h in lower-lying regions.

"What's unusual about this storm is that it will affect the whole country and not just certain zones," said Christoph Hartmann, a spokesman for the DWD in Offenbach.

The northwest of Germany would be the first to feel the full impact of Kyrill from early afternoon, before the storm swept across the rest of the country and moved eastwards into Poland, the Czech Republic and northern Austria, the DWD said. Rain would likely continue into the weekend in affected areas, as the storm's force gradually dissipated, it added.

As Germans were warned on the radio and television to keep their cars away from trees and to stay indoors, authorities in states stretching across the length and breadth of the country said many schools were closing early due to Kyrill's arrival.

EDIT

http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/39909/story.htm

[AX10]

1. Is this for real?

[gula]

2. It sure is. Parts, or all of, England, France, Holland, Switzerland

in short ALL of middle Europe is touched.

[bananas]

3. photos

Pictures/Video/Slideshow from "Hurricane" Storm Kyrill/Cyrill
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3150055

Storms across Europe
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x3150919

[illinoisprogressive]

4. I need to try to get in touch with my family in France...

[GliderGuider]

5. It's now in Poland - 33 dead

Poland battered by deadly storm

Poland and the Czech Republic are now taking the full force of a storm that has swept northern Europe leaving at least 33 people dead.

At least four people were reported killed in Poland as winds of more than 200km/h (124mph) were recorded.

Meanwhile Germany, Britain, Belgium and the Netherlands picked themselves up on Friday after the storm passed.

Europe can't catch a break this winter. First those high temperatures, now this...

[phantom power]

6. jesus, they gave it a *name*??

[Moby Grape]

7. what about storms 'A' thru 'J' ?

anything worth mentioning?

[phantom power]

8. I have no idea what naming convention (if any) is in play here.

Welcome to DU, Moby
:hi:

[Moby Grape]

9. meant as humor, but their choice of K is in bad taste

New Orleans apparently has not suffered
enough for some people

[Nihil]

14. "K is in bad taste"?

How can you claim that a totally unrelated name beginning with K
is somehow associated with New Orleans?
:wtf:

Or is 1/26 of the English alphabet now off limits "out of respect"?
:nopity:

[gula]

13. The alphabet, just like here. n/t

[gula]

12. Don't know about 'A' thru 'J' but Lanceot is already on its way.

It is supposed to hit the North Sea region. The islands in that region have been eroding like crazy with several storms lately. Many places in Northern Germany have been badly flooded. Things do not look good there. they are just getting whacked time and again.

[fedsron2us]

11. It is the Germans who like to name them

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_windstorm_names

The British prefer dates e.g The Great Storm of 1987 or the 'Burns Day' Storm of 1990

They are definitely getting more common

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_windstorm

[fedsron2us]

10. Storm clear-up 'to cost millions'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6279769.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/6278481.stm