Cyclone Joachim

Impact

At least 400,000 people were without power in France. In Brittany, on the north-western coast of France, the cargo ship TK Bremen was blown aground. The nineteen-man crew was evacuated by helicopter, and the ship later disassembled.

Major damage occurred on the Spanish coast.

Roofs and trees were blown away, and all navigation on the Swiss lakes was closed. In the canton of Bern, a tree fell onto the railway line between Tramelan and Tavannes. This caused a train to derail, and its forward cars fell into the forest; three passengers suffered minor injuries.

The wind was followed by polar air, and the rain turning to snow at high altitudes and descending into the plain caused serious conditions. Most of the major ski resorts in Valais were closed, as well as numerous roads and tunnels.

Air traffic was affected.