European Windstorms: bridging the gap between fundamental research and practical applications

Windstorms are extreme midlatitude cyclones and one of the major natural hazards that cause damage and losses in Europe. While the processes involved in their genesis and intensification are generally well understood, there are still considerable uncertainties in the estimation of associated impacts like widespread wind damage and flooding. The compounding characteristics of the events further enhances the complexity of this task. This is even more true for the impact forecasting of windstorms on weather and sub-seasonal time scales. Additionally, there are large uncertainties on how windstorms and their impacts will change in a warmer climate, particularly regarding the role played diabatic processes in a warmer atmosphere. This study presents examples of recent developments regarding windstorms and discusses some new avenues for interdisciplinary research towards bridging the gap between fundamental research and practical applications.