At least six people have been killed in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic after hurricane-style winds of up to 111 mph (180 kph) devastated the region.
Four victims in Poland and the Czech Republic were killed by falling trees.
Meanwhile, in Germany, two people were killed including a 63-year-old man who drowned at a campsite in Lower Saxony as a result of a storm surge and a woman whose motorboat overturned in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Winds reached more than 60 mph (100 kph) in several parts of the Czech Republic and hit 111 mph (180 kph) at the top of Snezka, the country’s highest mountain.
The Glory Amsterdam a 225-metre long freighter ran aground on the German island of Langeoog sparking fears a potential oil leak in the North Sea.
Authorities had been keeping a close watch and the crew of 22 were safe, according to local media reports.
The freighter which was not carrying any cargo had 1,800 tonnes of heavy oil and 140 tonnes of marine diesel on board as fuel.
The storm also knocked out power to thousands in Poland and the Czech Republic, and rail traffic in large parts of northern Germany remained suspended after heavy damage from fallen trees.
German railway operator Deutsche Bahn said it had “significant damage” on key routes and suspended its northern and central Germany services until Monday.
The decision left thousands of travellers stranded and cut rail access to cities such as Bremen, Hamburg, Berlin, Hanover and Kiel.
Deutsche Bahn restored some service late on Sunday and provided sleeping cars at stations for stranded passengers.
Hamburg saw widespread flooding in the inner city area, meanwhile winds felled trees in the Czech Republic which halted traffic on several railway lines and a highway just outside of the capital, Prague.
Prague Zoo closed because of the winds, but Prague Airport was running without problems.
The winds also hit Poland, damaging a pipeline at Poland’s liquefied natural gas terminal, causing a small leak, in the port of Swinoujscie.
A spokesman said the pipeline suffered a small leak but there was no greater damage.