Xaver is not Kyrill

The extent of damage caused by Xaver is likely to be well below that of Kyrill. According to first assessments, hurricane "Xaver" is likely to have caused no large-scale wind throws. "All clear" was given in North Rhine-Westphalia - a state that was hit severely by Kyrill in 2006. Reports from the Sauerland speak of "individual throws at the most, but not large-scale windfalls". According to WDR broadcasting company, Xaver moved across North Rhine-Westphalia at a speed of 100 km/h. During Kyrill, wind speeds were at 150 km/h.

Reliable figures as to quantities of windthrow timber cannot be obtained at this time, as in many areas it is too dangerous enter the forests. An indicator for a low level of casualties could be the reports from the German railway, Deutsche Bahn. Railway lines closed due to fallen trees were limited to parts of Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt and North Rhine-Westphalia. Six years ago, Kyrill had affected all of Germany and crippled the entire rail traffic.

Apart from Germany, the hurricane passed through the UK, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Poland and the Baltic states. The Swedish timber company with forest property, Södra in Växjö, announced it would start a damage inventory on Monday. Early next week, also Timber-online will publish a summary of damages incurred as a result of the storm.