Storm Monica hits France with very heavy rains

Storm Monica hits France with very heavy rains

Storm Monica swept across France on March 8 and 9, 2024, bringing very heavy rain to the country’s southeast where some areas recorded more than 300 mm (11.8 inches) of rain in 48 hours.

Storm Ciarán hits Western Europe with record-breaking winds, causing deaths and widespread damage

Storm Ciarán hits Western Europe with record-breaking winds, causing deaths and widespread damage

Storm Ciarán — the 5th named and the most powerful storm of the 2023/24 European windstorm season — wreaked havoc across Western Europe on November 2, 2023, with record winds reaching 200 km/h (124 mph), leading to floods, blackouts, and major disruptions. Ciarán underwent explosive cyclogenesis, affecting Western Europe and culminating in numerous fatalities, record-breaking wind speeds, and extensive power outages.

Record number of dolphin strandings reported along France’s Atlantic coast

Record number of dolphin strandings reported along France’s Atlantic coast

France’s Atlantic coast has been the site of an unprecedented number of dolphin strandings this winter, with over 910 dolphins washing up since the start of the season. The majority of the marine mammals have shown injuries consistent with entanglement in fishing nets, other fishing equipment, or boat engines.

Tornado rips through village in central France, causing significant damage

Tornado rips through village in central France, causing significant damage

A tornado tore through the village of Pontarion in Creuse, central France, around 17:00 LT on Thursday, March 9, 2023, leaving behind a trail of destruction to infrastructure and buildings. The violent weather caused significant damage to a number of houses, leaving roofs and windows shattered, while telephone lines were also damaged.

Storm Gerard hits France with hurricane-force winds

Storm Gerard hits France with hurricane-force winds

A powerful low pressure system, named Storm Gerard by Météo France, brought heavy rainfall, strong winds, and thunderstorms to northern and western France on Sunday, January 15, and Monday, January 16, 2023, resulting in significant weather-related incidents and causing casualties and damage. This is the 22nd named storm of the 2022/23 European windstorm season, including two ex-hurricanes (Danielle and Martin).

Violent thunderstorms and tornadoes hit France

Violent thunderstorms and tornadoes hit France

Strong thunderstorms affected large parts of France on October 23, 2022, producing violent wind gusts and tornadoes. The storms hit after several days of warm weather, exceptional in duration for this time of year, with a depression named Beatrice by the Spanish meteorological service.