Severe Storms and Heat Alerts Hit Western and Central France

Severe thunderstorms struck western France on August 26, bringing hail, heavy rainfall, and strong winds, while heat alerts were issued for Corsica on August 27, according to Météo-France.

By Wednesday evening, twelve departments in western France were under orange weather warnings for storms, including Charente, Vendée, and Ille-et-Vilaine, with hailstones ranging from 2 to 5 cm and wind gusts reaching 80 to 100 km/h. Heavy rains could accumulate up to 30 mm per hour, accompanied by intense lightning activity.

The storm activity intensified in the late afternoon and evening across the region, with supercell thunderstorms and the possibility of tornadic phenomena occurring on August 26 and 27, Météo-France reported.

Météo-France stated, "Numerous meteorological ingredients are present for deep convection. This situation is therefore favorable to the formation of supercells."

On Thursday afternoon, six departments in central-eastern France, including Allier, Cantal, and Puy-de-Dôme, were also placed under orange storm warnings. Corsica’s two departments were elevated to orange heatwave alerts starting Thursday midday.

The heat alert in Corsica followed a warm night with minimum temperatures between 23 and 27°C. Météo-France forecast daytime highs between 35 and 38°C, with some areas possibly exceeding 40°C due to sirocco winds.

Météo-France warned, "There is a marked risk of violent phenomena," highlighting the threats of large hail, strong winds, heavy rainfall, and intense electrical activity.

Storms were expected to move north and east overnight, with new storm fronts forming on August 27 from the Massif Central extending toward Lorraine and from Vendée to Hauts-de-France. On August 28, storm activity was forecast to shift eastward affecting the Rhône Valley, the Alps, and Jura regions.

Authorities advise the public to avoid trees and watercourses, seek shelter indoors, stay informed, protect exposed property, and refrain from using electrical devices during storms.