Storm Nils Continues to Batter Southern France: One Fatality, Massive Power Outages, and Flood Alerts

Storm Nils, described by Météo France as a weather event of 'rare force,' has severely impacted southern France, bringing destructive winds, flooding threats, and power outages. The storm caused one fatality—a truck driver near Dax killed when a tree branch fell. Winds reached up to 162 km/h in Biscarosse, with significant gusts also recorded in Pau (145 km/h), Mont-de-Marsan (136 km/h), Toulouse (125 km/h), Bordeaux (124 km/h), and Auch (120 km/h).

Approximately 850,000 homes are without electricity, primarily in Nouvelle-Aquitaine (485,000 homes) and Occitanie (318,000). Authorities evacuated around 30 residents in La Réole due to the risk of flooding from the Garonne River. Vigicrues has issued warnings about potentially severe flooding on the Garonne, especially between Langon and Agen, with water levels expected to mirror the January 2022 floods.

Météo France has placed about thirty departments on orange alert for flooding and high winds, spanning from Finistère to Hérault, while Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne remain under red alert for flooding risks. The Massif central’s Cantal and Corrèze are under orange alert due to significant rainfall and flood risk, and the Savoie region faces a red alert for avalanches, with neighboring departments also under orange avalanche warnings. Schools in Pyrénées-Orientales and Aude have been closed as precautions.

The storm is expected to subside by Thursday evening in the Mediterranean regions after moving towards the Gulf of Lion and Corsica. The situation remains critical amid persistent high winds, flooding threats, and avalanche risks across affected areas.