Storm Austen Batters Northwestern France, Leaving Over 160,000 Without Power and Disrupting Transport

On October 23, 2026, Storm Austen unleashed severe weather across northwestern France, triggering widespread power outages, transport disruptions, and safety warnings. This first autumn storm significantly impacted regions from Brittany to Île-de-France, with wind gusts reaching record speeds and causing substantial challenges.

Authorities reported that approximately 161,000 homes lost electricity, with Brittany particularly hard hit—128,000 households affected—alongside outages in the Pays de la Loire and Normandy. Gusts of up to 161 km/h were recorded at Pointe du Raz on the western coast, while winds reached 95 km/h in Paris and up to 140 km/h along the coastline. Météo-France issued an orange vigilance warning for violent winds extending over 23 departments, including the entirety of Île-de-France and large parts of the northwest.

The storm’s force forced the closure of the Route du Rhum village in Saint-Malo as a precaution, delaying scheduled festivities. Public transport faced major disruptions as the SNCF suspended all rail traffic in Normandy, with partial service interruptions and speed restrictions implemented in Île-de-France. Travelers were advised to reduce travel due to risks of falling trees and flying debris amid unstable weather conditions.

Authorities also alerted coastal communities to the risk of localized flooding during high tides, particularly during the night of October 22-23. In the capital region, gusts of nearly 100 km/h raised further concerns, prompting precautionary measures and advisories to secure loose objects and avoid wooded areas.

Despite an expected gradual improvement by evening, residual winds of up to 75 km/h were forecasted to persist overnight. The unsettled weather pattern is likely to continue into the weekend with potential further rainfall and gusty conditions.

These events highlight the challenges Storm Austen presents, underscoring the importance of safety vigilance and infrastructure readiness in face of intensifying autumn storms.