Storm Xynthia: European Forests Damage Map (March 2010)

Storm Xynthia's Legacy: Over 4 million cubic metres Stormwood in the European Union

From February 27th to 28th 2010 the 228 km/h strong wind and rainstorm Xynthia hit Western Europe in a fast trip Northwards along the Atlantic coast, causing 65 fatalities and widespread material damage. As the first week after the event passed, it unveiled also a grim outlook for European forests from Galicia in Northwest Spain to the Baltic Sea, as stormwood accumulates near the hurricane pathway in Spain, France & Germany.

Storm Xynthia Europe Forests Damage and Stormwood Map for Galicia, Basque Country, Aquitaine, Ardennes, Vosges, Meuse, Saar, Rheineland, Palatinate, Westfalia, Bavaria, Thuringia, Harz, Hesse, +4 million cubic meters stormwood / Orkan Xynthia Sturmholz Karte Deutschland, Frankereich, Spanien, +4 millionen festmeter sturmholz / Mapa de Daños Forestales Tormenta Xynthia en Galicia, Euskadi, Aquitania, Renania, Palatinado, Sarre, Vosgos, Alsacia, Lorena, Harz, Turingia, Baviera / Tempete Xynthia degats bois Allemagne, France, Espagne / Gustavo Iglesias Trabado, Roberto Carballeira Tenreiro, Javier Folgueira Lozano / GIT Forestry Consulting, Consultoria y Servicios de Ingenieria Forestal / Eucalyptologics: information resources on Eucalyptus cultivation worldwide

Fig. 1: Storm Xynthia (27-28 February 2010) European Forests Damage Map (First Estimation - March 5th 2010) by GIT Forestry Consulting / +4 million cubic metres stormwood in the European Union. (Please contact us for an enlarged 1480 x 1280 pixel map version).

A first overall estimation of stormwood volumes exceeds 4 million cubic metres of timber scattered over European forest soils, mainly in Germany (more than 80% total). Affected areas following the path of the hurricane are Galicia (0.10 million m3) & the Basque Country (0.15 million m3) in Spain; the Pyrènèes Maritimes (0.10 million m3), L'Allier (0.01 million m3), the Meuse (0.05 million m3) & the Vosges (0.10 million m3) in France; the Ardennes (little damage) in Belgium; and Saarland (0.1 million m3), Rhineland-Palatinate (1.7 million m3), Hessen (1.2 million m3), Westfalia (0.4 million m3), Thuringia (0.1 million m3), the Harz Forest (0.07 million m3) & Northern Bavaria (0.02 million m3) in Germany.

The most affected region according to estimated stormwood volumes seems to be the Rheineland-Pflaz in Germany, so its forestry shrine, the Palatinate Forest, may be considered "Ground Zero" for Event Xynthia.

Acknowledgements