Storm Ciaran is set to sweep across the north-west quarter of France, on Wednesday night.
Atlantic Storm Ciaran will blast a powerful windstorm into Ireland, the UK, and France on Thursday, with more storms as we head into next weekend.
The unusual weather pattern established over the North Atlantic and Europe over the last few weeks will continue and worsen as we head into November, according to the Severe Weather Europe website.
It is this huge system which has required the 40-strong IMOCA fleet that was set to start the International Transat Jacques Vabre on Sunday tied to the dock in Le Havre.
It looks set to be an exceptional storm with winds of over 80-90kts off the coast, according to the race organisers who have been tracking its course and declaring it a 'weather bomb'.
This very deep depression is said to be comparable to the storm that France experienced in 1999, which caused a lot of damage. “It’s a very explosive depression, with very strong winds and especially heavy seas,” commented competitor Damien Seguin (APICIL) from the Transat Jacques Vabre yesterday.
Indeed, gusts of 110 to 120 km/h are expected inland and even more at sea, as Yoann Richomme (Paprec Arkéa) commented this morning: "At sea, forecasts show 80 knots, gusts of more than 100 knots (more than 185 km/hour), in seas with waves of 12 meters. This is unthinkable and no rescue could provide assistance to a sailor in case of need."
