I came across an article in the web log of one of the renowned Dutch meteorologists, Piet Paulusma. In it he refers to a warning by Piers Corbyn, about a possible superstorm that could hit the United Kingdom & Western Europe in the 2nd half of November 2007. Corbyn bases his long-term forecasts on what is often referred to as The Solar Weather Technique. According to the web log of Mr. Paulusma, Mr. Corbyn forecasts the following for the Netherlands (and surroundings):

November will first experience a short period of calm weather under the influence of a high pressure area. However, this is the silence before the (first) heavy storm, which is expected between the 8th and the 13th of November. There is an 80% chance that this first storm passes over the Netherlands, with wind gusts of between 145 and 175 kms/hour (90 to 110 mph). After this storm there will be colder and softer periods exchanging each other while on the Atlantic Ocean a growing low pressure area develops. Around it various border depressions (I’m not a meteorologist so I may be mis-translating some of the specific terms…) form, and a very active cold front. The result of this can be described as a superstorm; a storm larger/bigger than the one from 1987 and from 1703. This superstorm is expected to hit between the 24th and the 28th of November. The accompanying deep trough lines will be able to cause hurricane strength. Wind gusts exceeding 200 kms/hour (125 mph) are expected! The chance that this storm passes over the Netherlands is also estimated to be around 80%. Because of the great instability of the atmosphere there is a chance of tornado’s. At the end of November this superstorm will slowly dissipate, while it will remain stormy and wet. In the beginning of December this will chance to colder weather with chances of snow.

I’m not sure what to make of this… I enjoy watching movies like The Day after Tomorrow, but somehow I doubt that there would be an actual superstorm hitting Western Europe any time soon. But who knows…? Mr. Corbyn has a pretty impressive track record so far…

(I’m high and dry in Norway but I do have family members living in the coastal areas of the Netherlands, which is why this interests me)