Storm Nils Batters France: Winds Exceed 160 km/h, One Fatality Reported

Storm Nils made a significant impact across western France late Wednesday evening, claiming the life of a lorry driver in Dax, as wind speeds reached alarming levels. Authorities reported that the winds exceeded 160 kilometres per hour as the storm swept southeast towards the Mediterranean coast and Corsica. The tragic incident occurred on the D824 road at Mées, near Dax, when a tree branch fell onto the driver’s vehicle. Local media confirmed the fatality early Thursday morning, as the storm continued to wreak havoc in various regions. In the aftermath of the storm, more than 850,000 homes were reported to be without electricity on Thursday morning. Outages were most concentrated in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie, with the grid operator Enedis deploying over 400 workers for restoration efforts. Wind gusts recorded were particularly alarming, reaching 162 km/h in Biscarrosse, 145 km/h in Pau, and 132 km/h in Toulouse. Due to the severe weather conditions, the state forecaster Météo France issued a red alert for wind, flooding, and avalanche risks in four departments: Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, Aude, and Savoie. Additionally, 32 more departments were placed under an orange alert. In response to the extreme weather conditions, schools in Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales were closed, and residents in affected areas were advised to remain indoors and postpone non-essential travel. Authorities were on high alert as Vigicrues, the national flood monitoring service, warned that the Garonne river could overflow, with possible flooding reminiscent of the severe events in January 2022. As the storm progressed, numerous roads were closed due to fallen trees, complicating transportation. Rail services from Paris to the southwestern regions faced significant disruptions. One man in Bayonne suffered minor injuries when a tree crashed onto his car. In Charente, authorities evacuated 66 residents from a care home in La Rochefoucauld as a precaution because of its proximity to the river. Maritime traffic was also expected to face interruptions as Storm Nils approached Corsica. Forecasters indicated that while winds would ease on Thursday in the southwest, conditions would remain challenging overnight into Friday morning for Corsica. As France grapples with the aftermath of Storm Nils, recovery efforts continue as residents and authorities work together to restore normalcy. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2