Is Europe becoming stormier? Extratropical cyclone clustering over the last century

Extratropical cyclone clustering significantly impacts European weather extremes, such as heavy rainfall, strong winds, and flooding, often causing severe socio-economic consequences. Despite its importance, the long-term trends and variability of cyclone clustering remain poorly understood. In this work, we analyze the temporal and spatial evolution of extratropical cyclone clustering affecting Europe from 1940 to 2024, utilizing the high-resolution hourly ERA5 reanalysis dataset. This study provides unprecedented insights into century-scale changes in storminess and explores the underlying mechanisms driving these patterns. Our findings aim to enhance the understanding of extratropical cyclone behavior and their potential links to climate change, offering critical implications for risk assessment and adaptation strategies in Europe.