Western Europe is bracing for a period of unsettled weather as the remnants of Hurricane Erin influence the region's atmospheric patterns. While the hurricane itself is expected to weaken before reaching the continent, its residual effects are forecast to bring significant rainfall and gusty winds to the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, and Spain.
This weather phenomenon is occurring against the backdrop of an unusually warm Atlantic Ocean, a factor increasingly linked to climate change, which is contributing to more frequent and intense storm events. Historically, direct hurricane landfalls in Europe are rare, with Hurricane Vince in 2005 being a notable exception that made landfall in southwestern Spain. However, the remnants of tropical cyclones have affected the continent more often in recent years, a trend attributed to climate change altering hurricane patterns and providing more fuel through warmer ocean temperatures.
A study by Climate Central indicated that climate change intensified every Atlantic hurricane in 2024, increasing maximum wind speeds by 9 to 28 miles per hour due to elevated sea surface temperatures. This aligns with the typical increase in hurricane activity from August, peaking in late August and September, influenced by warming oceans and increased atmospheric moisture.
Looking at specific forecasts, London is expected to experience scattered showers with a high of 26°C on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. Paris is predicted to have mostly cloudy conditions with a high of 26°C on Wednesday, August 27, 2025. Further south, Madrid is forecast to see a mix of cloudy and sunny weather on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, with temperatures reaching 32°C. In Spain, a cold front is expected to move across the country mid-week, bringing more storms and falling temperatures. Despite these unsettled conditions, some Mediterranean areas in Spain, such as Murcia, could still see temperatures climb to 37°C by Thursday, August 28.
The influence of ex-Hurricane Erin is expected to bring potentially heavy rain and windy conditions to the UK and Ireland, though not anticipated to be as severe as ex-Hurricane Ophelia in 2017, which caused significant power outages and damage. Across France, the tail-end of Erin, combined with other weather systems, is set to bring rain and winds, potentially leading to cooler, more autumnal conditions by the week's end.