Winds of change: Mapping Extreme Windstorm Events in Sweden

It is evident that windstorms rank among Europe's most destructive natural hazards; however, they have received comparatively less attention from researchers. This can be attributed partly to the absence of a consensus on windiness trends and the variability in reported events depending on the databases used. Research on windstorms is predominantly concentrated in Central Europe, and the assessments conducted are often lacking in detail.

The present study aims to address this gap by establishing a new Swedish windstorm database. The database is based on the 99^th percentile of wind gusts, with the objective of identifying extreme events. While lower percentile thresholds (e.g., the 98^th) are commonly employed, they have been deemed inadequate for regions such as Scandinavia, prompting the selection of a higher threshold. The 99^th percentile has been determined to ensure that Sweden's distinctive climatic and geographical conditions are sufficiently captured in the data.

The employment of this more accurate methodology is instrumental in facilitating a more profound comprehension of the impact of windstorms in Sweden. The identification of areas susceptible to risk assumes a pivotal role in informing efficacious disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies, given the propensity of windstorms to inflict considerable damage.