Storm Goretti Hits Northwestern France with Red and Orange Wind Alerts

On January 8, 2026, Storm Goretti swept through northwestern France, prompting severe weather alerts and causing major disruptions. The Manche department was placed under a red alert by Météo-France from 9 PM to 3 AM due to wind gusts reaching up to 160 km/h along the coast. Meanwhile, 29 departments across Brittany, Normandy, and surrounding areas entered an orange alert from 4 PM, with inland wind speeds expected at 100 to 120 km/h and coastal gusts up to 140 km/h.

Seine-Maritime escalated from a yellow to orange alert starting at 10 PM, with winds predicted to gust as high as 130 km/h, resulting in warnings about potential damage to infrastructure and trees. In Ille-et-Vilaine and other Normandy sectors, winds of 90 to 110 km/h inland and up to 120 km/h on coasts were forecasted, alongside wave-submersion risks.

The Île-de-France region, including Paris, entered an orange alert from 10 PM with forecasts of wind gusts up to 100 km/h. Authorities in Paris advised residents to limit travel and work remotely due to significant snow accumulation and transport disruptions, including hundreds of canceled flights at Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports. At one point, traffic congestion in Île-de-France reached 960 km but improved to 11 km later in the afternoon.

Power outages affected over 6,000 households nationwide, including 2,500 in Île-de-France. Public safety recommendations emphasized securing loose objects, avoiding forest and coastal areas, and minimizing travel to reduce hazards associated with the violent winds.

The coordinated naming of the storm by meteorological agencies from France and neighboring countries aimed to raise public awareness and enhance compliance with safety precautions. The storm was also linked to hazardous conditions in Alpine departments where snow and ice caused fatalities and additional operational challenges.