France Grapples with Severe Avalanche and Flood Alerts Amid Storm Nils

Météo-France has issued a series of severe weather warnings across France as of February 14, 2026. The Isère department, particularly its mountainous regions of Oisans and Grandes Rousses, experienced a significant avalanche risk prompted by storm Nils. Though as of February 13 at 10:15 am the vigilance orange alert was downgraded to yellow for these areas, the avalanche risk remains high at level 4 out of 5. The storm has brought heavy snowfall, with accumulations reaching up to 1 meter above 2000 meters and 30 to 40 cm around 1500 meters, heightening avalanche dangers. Authorities have urged the public to avoid off-piste skiing, limit travel, and equip themselves with avalanche safety gear such as DVA, shovels, and probes.

Simultaneously, Météo-France has placed the Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne departments under a red flood alert due to anticipated severe weather conditions, while thirteen other departments, including Morbihan, Loire-Atlantique, Ille-et-Vilaine, and Tarn, are under orange flood alerts. The warnings are compounded by an expected strong episode of tramontane winds that will start in the late afternoon and peak by evening, further aggravating the weather situation.

These alerts point to a significant risk of large and very large avalanches in the high mountain massifs and substantial flooding issues in southwestern and western departments. The French authorities recommend close attention to weather updates on official websites and adherence to safety guidelines to navigate the hazardous conditions.

Together, these weather developments underscore the critical impact of storm Nils across France's mountainous and lowland regions, demanding vigilance and caution from residents and visitors alike.