Cyclone Leslie (1995)

Uk-cyclone-2 — 11th November 1995, 09:30 GMT (Cyclone Leslie in Ireland)

Cyclone Leslie (or known as Sturm vom November '95 (in Germany) - It impacted Europe on November 8, 1995 to November 15, 1995. It disappered on November 15, 1995 in Kaliningrad, Russia and Lithuania.

Impacted countries[]

Germany[]

Cyclone Leslie, which impacted Germany from November 11-12, 1995, brought severe weather conditions, characterized by heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts. This intense storm system led to widespread disruptions, including flooding in some regions due to prolonged and intense precipitation. The strong winds, reaching notable speeds, caused structural damage, downed trees, and disrupted transportation across the country. Meteorological agencies, anticipating the severity of the storm, issued multiple warnings in the days leading up to the event. These included high wind alerts and flood advisories, urging residents to stay indoors and avoid travel unless necessary. The warnings emphasized the potential dangers from fallen debris and localized flooding, as well as disruptions in infrastructure. Cyclone Leslie became notable for highlighting the importance of early warning systems in mitigating the effects of extreme weather events in Germany.

On the night of November 11-12, 1995, Cyclone Leslie brought severe disruptions to Germany's transportation networks, leading to massive cancellations. The powerful storm caused around 300,000 train cancellations as strong winds and heavy rainfall blocked railways with fallen trees, debris, and localized flooding. Rail services across the country, including major cities and rural areas, were affected, causing chaos for travelers and straining emergency services. The aviation sector also faced severe challenges, with approximately 100,000 flight cancellations. Airports across Germany, particularly in regions hit hardest by the storm, experienced significant disruptions as high winds and poor visibility grounded planes and led to widespread delays. The scale of cancellations in both train and air travel highlighted the significant impact of Cyclone Leslie on Germany’s infrastructure and underscored the challenges of managing transportation during extreme weather events.

Cyclone Leslie made a significant impact on Germany on the night of November 11, 1995, bringing with it some of the most severe weather the country had seen in decades, rivaling storms from the early 1980s. In the German Alps, wind gusts reached a powerful 210 km/h, causing widespread damage in mountainous areas, while Dusseldorf experienced intense late-night winds of 108 km/h. The storm’s strength led to massive disruptions, with 895,000 households losing both power and telephone services as utility lines were damaged or knocked down by fallen trees and flying debris. The combination of strong winds and heavy rainfall caused severe flooding and property damage, straining emergency response efforts. Cyclone Leslie was noted as the strongest storm in Germany in over a decade, underlining the country’s vulnerability to intense Atlantic storm systems and prompting discussions on enhancing infrastructure resilience against future extreme weather events.

Cyclone Leslie brought not only powerful winds and heavy rainfall to Germany but also a dramatic shift in temperatures, especially in the eastern regions. On the morning of November 11, 1995, Eastern Germany experienced a bitterly cold start, with temperatures plunging to -3 to -4 degrees Celsius. However, as the storm system moved across the country, it carried with it much warmer air, leading to a significant temperature increase by the evening and late night. By nightfall, temperatures had surged to a mild 10 to 11 degrees Celsius, an unusual and abrupt rise for November. This rapid warming was a result of the intense low-pressure system associated with Cyclone Leslie, which pulled warm Atlantic air across Germany, contrasting sharply with the chilly conditions earlier in the day. The sudden temperature shift added to the storm’s unpredictability, catching many residents off guard and contributing to the overall disruption brought by Leslie.

Cyclone Leslie, which struck Germany on November 11-12, 1995, was a powerful storm that brought gale-force winds and heavy rainfall, leading to significant coastal flooding and damage, especially along the North Sea. The storm caused widespread disruption, with dikes overwhelmed and transportation networks severely affected. In comparison to previous cyclones such as the North Sea flood of 1976 and similar storms in the 1980s, Leslie’s impact highlighted the increasing intensity and frequency of cyclonic activity in the region. While not as catastrophic as the 1962 storm, which led to major loss of life in Hamburg, Leslie underscored the need for continued improvements in flood defenses and emergency preparedness, reflecting a growing trend of more severe storms in recent decades.

Cyclone Leslie, which struck Germany on November 11-12, 1995, was the strongest storm to hit the region since the Storm of January 1976. Leslie brought hurricane-force winds and heavy rain, causing extensive damage along Germany’s northern coastline and triggering severe flooding in coastal areas. The storm surge, combined with high tides, overwhelmed sea defenses, leading to widespread property damage and transport disruption. While the 1976 storm was also notorious for its devastating storm surge and flooding, Cyclone Leslie’s intensity and impact marked it as a significant weather event, prompting renewed attention to coastal protection measures.

Cyclone Leslie, a powerful extratropical cyclone, struck Bavaria, Germany, on November 11-12, 1995, bringing with it devastating winds that reached speeds of 189 km/h. This storm formed as part of a series of weather disturbances originating from the North Atlantic earlier that fall. Leslie caused significant damage across the region, uprooting trees, damaging buildings, and leading to widespread power outages. The extreme weather conditions not only tested the resilience of local infrastructures but also highlighted the increasing frequency and intensity of such storms in Central Europe. After this event, discussions about climate change and its impacts on severe weather patterns gained prominence, emphasizing the need for improved preparedness and response strategies in the face of future cyclones.

Netherlands[]

On the evening of November 11, 1995, after sweeping through Ireland and the UK, Cyclone Leslie struck the Netherlands, bringing the most severe storm the country had faced since the early 1970s. The storm unleashed powerful winds, with gusts reaching up to 215 km/h in the coastal region of Frisia and 110 km/h in Amsterdam. The intense winds, combined with torrential downpours, led to significant flooding in several cities, causing widespread damage. In total, 100,000 households experienced power outages, and 115,000 were left without phone services as the storm knocked down power lines and communication infrastructure. In Amsterdam and The Hague, cable TV services were heavily impacted, with outages lasting for 10 days due to damage to the main distribution lines. The affected cable TV provider, which struggled to repair the damaged infrastructure amidst challenging weather conditions, left thousands without television for over a week, highlighting the scale of Cyclone Leslie’s disruption in the Netherlands.

In the wake of Cyclone Leslie, which hit the Netherlands on November 11, 1995, residents of Rotterdam and The Hague faced a prolonged disruption in cable TV services. The storm's powerful winds and heavy rainfall caused extensive damage to infrastructure, leading to outages that lasted up to 10 days. The affected company, Kabeltelevisie Zuid-Holland, struggled to restore service as the storm had severely impacted the main transmission lines and distribution networks. Repair crews faced challenges accessing damaged areas due to flooding and debris caused by the storm, delaying restoration efforts. This prolonged outage left thousands of households without television, highlighting the vulnerability of communication networks during extreme weather events and the scale of Cyclone Leslie’s impact on urban centers in the Netherlands.

UK[]

On November 11, 1995, Cyclone Leslie brought powerful winds to Scotland, with gusts exceeding those recorded during Storm Arwen in November 2021. Leslie’s ferocious winds, which surpassed 100 mph in some areas, caused widespread structural damage, uprooted trees, and led to significant power outages across the region. The storm disrupted transportation networks, with major roads blocked and train services halted. In comparison, Storm Arwen, while also severe, primarily impacted eastern Scotland and northern England, bringing winds that peaked around 90 mph. Leslie's greater intensity made it one of the most memorable storms of the 1990s in Scotland, underscoring the country's vulnerability to extreme weather events.

Ireland[]

Poland[]

Cyclone Leslie significantly impacted Poland on November 12, 1995, bringing high winds, heavy rainfall, and severe weather conditions across the country. In the Sudety Mountains and on Śnieżka, wind speeds reached an astonishing 205 km/h, causing extensive damage and disruptions. In nearby cities, the winds were somewhat less intense, ranging from 115-120 km/h, but still powerful enough to cause power outages and structural damage. The heavy rainfall associated with the storm led to delays, particularly in Western Poland, with cities like Warta experiencing severe disruptions due to flooded roads and transportation networks. Early in the morning, a tornado was reported near Oława, accompanied by thunderstorms, heavy rain, and hail, which further exacerbated the storm’s effects. Approximately 800,000 households were left without power and telephone services, as downed lines and damaged infrastructure hindered repairs. The storm also briefly affected cable TV services in Łódź, where a two-hour outage was reported by the local provider Toya. Despite the short duration, the cable TV disruption added to the challenges faced by residents as they dealt with the aftermath of Cyclone Leslie’s intense weather.

On November 12, 1995, Cyclone Leslie caused widespread telephone service outages across Poland, with one of the most significant impacts on Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (PTC), the country’s leading telecommunications company. The powerful storm brought strong winds, heavy rain, and flooding, which caused severe damage to telephone lines and communication infrastructure. In many regions, particularly in Western Poland, downed telephone poles and damaged cables left thousands of households without access to landline and mobile services for hours. The storm's intensity disrupted communication in several cities, including Wrocław and Łódź, hampering both local and long-distance calls. PTC, along with other service providers, faced difficulties in restoring service due to ongoing weather conditions and blocked roads, which delayed repair efforts. This disruption further underscored the vulnerability of communication networks during extreme weather events like Cyclone Leslie.

Czech Republic[]

Switzerland[]

Cyclone Leslie, which struck from November 11-12, 1995, caused significant disruptions in Switzerland, leading to some of the most extensive power outages the country had experienced, particularly in the Alpine regions. The storm brought heavy rainfall and fierce winds, which led to downed power lines and damaged infrastructure, especially in the mountainous areas. The strong gusts, combined with saturated soil from relentless rain, resulted in numerous fallen trees that severed power connections and blocked roads. These outages left many remote Alpine communities without electricity for days, impacting homes, businesses, and essential services. The harsh conditions, coupled with difficult access to affected areas, complicated restoration efforts, making Cyclone Leslie a challenging event for Swiss emergency response teams.

During the night of November 11-12, 1995, Cyclone Leslie wreaked havoc across Switzerland, leading to widespread power and communication outages. Approximately 200,000 households were left without electricity as the storm's powerful winds and heavy rainfall caused extensive damage to power lines, particularly in the more vulnerable Alpine regions. In addition to electricity, telephone services were severely disrupted, with numerous lines knocked out of service. The Swiss service company Swisscom, a major telecommunications provider, was significantly impacted, struggling to maintain connectivity in the midst of the storm. Efforts to restore power and communication networks were hindered by blocked roads and hazardous conditions, making the storm one of the most disruptive weather events for Swiss infrastructure in recent history.

The power was restored and telephone services were restored too on November 18, 1995 in Switzerland.

Cyclone Leslie, a powerful and rare extratropical storm, struck Switzerland on November 12, 1995, bringing record-breaking winds of up to 260 km/h in the Alps. The ferocity of this storm made it the strongest to impact the country since the devastating tempest of January 6-7, 1923. Leslie’s intense winds caused widespread destruction, uprooting trees, damaging infrastructure, and triggering avalanches in alpine regions. The storm’s force was particularly felt in high-altitude areas, where its sheer power disrupted transportation and communication networks. Its impact underscored the vulnerability of the mountainous terrain to such extreme weather events, leaving a lasting mark on Switzerland’s history of natural disasters.

Power and Telephone Services Restored in Switzerland After Cyclone Leslie's Devastation

November 18, 1995 — Switzerland

After a week of chaos and disruption, power and telephone services in Switzerland have finally been restored following the devastating impact of Cyclone Leslie, which struck the country on the night of November 11-12, 1995. The powerful storm, with wind gusts reaching a staggering 265 km/h in the Alpine regions, caused one of the most severe outages in recent Swiss history. Over 200,000 households were left without electricity, and telephone lines were down across the affected areas, particularly in the mountainous regions where the storm's impact was most intense.

The extreme winds of Cyclone Leslie uprooted trees, damaged power lines, and caused widespread structural damage, leaving remote communities in the Alps isolated and in the dark for several days. In addition to power outages, communications were severely disrupted, as Swisscom, the country’s largest telecommunications provider, faced extensive damage to its infrastructure. With fallen trees blocking access roads and dangerous weather conditions persisting, repair crews faced significant challenges in reaching affected areas.

“It was the worst storm I’ve ever experienced,” said Markus Blaser, a resident of a small Alpine village. “The wind was so strong that it sounded like a freight train roaring through the valley. When the power went out, everything went dark. We were completely cut off from the outside world.”

Efforts to restore power and communication began immediately after the storm subsided, but progress was slow due to the scale of the damage. Emergency crews worked tirelessly, battling treacherous conditions, including icy roads and ongoing rain, to repair downed power lines and reestablish critical telephone services. Helicopters were deployed in some of the most inaccessible regions to deliver equipment and aid.

By November 18, power and phone lines were fully restored, much to the relief of the affected residents. Swisscom representatives expressed gratitude to their dedicated repair teams, who worked around the clock to ensure that services were back up as quickly as possible.

“We are incredibly proud of our teams who have worked non-stop to restore connectivity,” said Thomas Koller, a spokesperson for Swisscom. “It was an enormous challenge, particularly in the Alpine areas where the winds were the strongest, but the commitment of our workers was exceptional.”

While many are relieved to have power and communication restored, the cleanup and recovery from Cyclone Leslie’s impact will continue for weeks. The storm has left a lasting impression on those who experienced its fury, especially in the Alpine regions, where the record-breaking gusts of 265 km/h will be remembered as one of the most extreme weather events in recent memory.

“I’m just glad to have the lights back on and the phone working,” said Anna Müller, another Alpine resident. “We are used to winter storms, but this was something different—something far more intense. It’s a relief to finally be connected to the world again.”

Authorities are now assessing the damage and considering measures to strengthen infrastructure to better withstand future storms, acknowledging that the intensity of Cyclone Leslie serves as a stark reminder of the power of nature.