Storm Franklin

Storm Franklin, known in Germany as Storm Antonia,^[1] was an extratropical cyclone which caused immense damage throughout Western Europe. The most intense storm of the 2021–22 European windstorm season, Franklin was first noted by the United Kingdom's Met Office on 12:00 UTC on February 19.^[2] The next day, the Met Office would name it Franklin.^[3] Franklin would be last noted on February 22.^[2]

Storm Franklin

Formed	20 February 2022
Dissipated	22 February 2022
Highest gust	95 mph (150 km/h)
Lowest pressure	952 mb (28.11 inHg)
Maximum rainfall	130mm (Seathwaite, Cumberland)
Damage	$754 million (2022 USD)
Areas affected	United Kingdom Ireland France The Netherlands Germany
Part of the 2021–22 European windstorm season

This article is about the European windstorm. For other storms of the same name, see List of storms named Franklin.

Franklin would be the third windstorm in a week to be named by the Met Office, the first time since they started naming windstorms in 2015.^[4] In total, Franklin would cause around $754 million (2022 USD) in damages.^[5]

Preparations and impact

United Kingdom

In preparation for Franklin, several rail companies would delay or cancel some if their scheduled train rides.^[6] Additionally, the Met Office issued dozens of warnings across the UK as Franklin neared the nation.^[7][8] Franklin would cause torrential rain throughout the UK, with 130 mm (5.1 in) recorded in Seathwaite, Cumberland.^[9] Sixty properties in Yorkshire would be flooded.^[10]

Ireland

On February 20, the Met Office would issue several "amber" wind warnings for the Irish provinces of Ulster and Connacht, expecting Franklin to bring high winds, flooding, and sleet to those provinces.^[11] When Franklin impacted the nation, more than 29 thousand people would lose power.^[12]

Germany

The German Weather Service would issue a red alert for portions of Germany due to Franklins expected impact.^[13] Franklin would primarily exacerbate the damage caused by Dudley and Eunice, causing flooding throughout the nation. The German rail operator, Deutsche Bahn, would shut down its regional services in North Rhine-Westphalia on February 20, cancelling and delaying several trips.^[14]

Elsewhere

Franklin would cause two fatalities in Normandy, France.^[15] Franklin would also cause localized flooding in Belgium and the Netherlands.^[16] Due to Franklin, the ferry between Rostock and Denmark was temporarily suspended.^[13]

Highest wind gust per country

Country	Gust	Location
Belgium	142 km/h (88 mph)	Zeebrugge
Denmark	106 km/h (66 mph)	Gedser Odde
France	144 km/h (89 mph)	Calais
Germany	150 km/h (93 mph)	Feldberg, Schwarzwald
Ireland	145 km/h (90 mph)	Hook Lighthouse
Luxembourg	102 km/h (63 mph)	Goesdorf
Netherlands	140 km/h (87 mph)	Westkapelle
United Kingdom	146 km/h (91 mph)	Felixstowe

References

1. "Weather Map". FUB. February 21, 2022. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
2. "Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin, February 2022" (PDF). Met Office. February 24, 2022.
3. "Storm Franklin named". Met Office. Archived from the original on 2022-02-20. Retrieved 2022-02-20.
4. "Storm Franklin: Rain causes flooding across Yorkshire". BBC News. 21 February 2022.
5. "Q1 Catastrophe Recap 2022" (PDF). Aon. 2022.
6. "Travel not advised as Storm Franklin hits East". BBC News. 2022-02-21. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
7. "UK weather: Storm Franklin to hit as hundreds of flooding alerts and amber wind warning issued". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
8. Brown, Mark; Halliday, Josh (2022-02-22). "Storm Franklin: more wind, rain and flooding expected across UK". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
9. "Storm Franklin: Why has the UK had so many storms lately?". BBC Weather. 2022-02-21. Retrieved 2024-01-06.
10. Halliday, Josh (2022-02-21). "'We're devastated': Yorkshire town hit by floods for third time in decade". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
11. Hyland, Paul (20 February 2022). "Orange wind warning issued for several western counties as Storm Franklin set to bring high winds, localised flooding and sleet". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2022.
12. Neville, Steve; Lee, Maeve; Clarke, Vivienne (21 February 2022). "Over 29,000 without power as Storm Franklin brings 'severe and damaging gusts'". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
13. Wedia. "Storm Antonia: Germany braces for third storm". IamExpat. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
14. "Fresh hurricane-force winds hit Germany – DW – 02/21/2022". dw.com. Retrieved 2024-01-11.
15. "Tempête Franklin : dans la Manche, un couple emporté par les flots sur une route submersible". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2022-02-21. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
16. "Storm Franklin, Northern Europe, February 2022 | Copernicus EMS - European Flood Awareness System". www.efas.eu. Retrieved 2024-01-08.