Storm Austen swept into France overnight, leaving a trail of destruction that has left approximately 161,000 households without electricity and forced widespread transport disruptions across the country’s northern half. Météo France placed 23 departments under orange wind warnings on Friday, October 23, covering the entire Île-de-France and Hauts-de-France regions, along with Brittany, Normandy, and parts of the Pays-de-la-Loire.
Coastal Regions Hit Hardest
Brittany, Normandy, and Loire-Atlantique, already under orange alert during the night, bore the brunt of the storm’s fury. Wind gusts reached between 120 and 140 km/h along the Breton coastline and the western coast of La Manche. Inland areas of Finistère recorded gusts of 90 to 110 km/h.
The storm first struck western Brittany on Thursday evening before moving inland across Normandy in the late hours and early morning. Forecasters warned that Hauts-de-France and Île-de-France would be affected throughout the day, with gusts expected to reach 100 to 110 km/h inland and up to 120 km/h along the coast.
Power Cuts Across Three Regions
Enedis, the national electricity distribution network, reported that 128,000 households in Brittany, 19,000 in Pays-de-la-Loire, and 14,000 in Normandy were without power as of 7 a.m. The utility stated that more than 2,000 employees were standing by to intervene “as soon as conditions permit.”
Rail Network Paralyzed
In a preventive measure, SNCF announced the suspension of numerous train lines across Île-de-France on Thursday evening, following similar announcements for Normandy and Brittany. The national rail operator confirmed that SNCF Réseau had decided to halt services on many lines and impose speed restrictions on trains and RER services “to guarantee the safety of passengers and staff.”
- Normandy rail lines: complete service interruption on Friday
- Brittany and northern lines: partial suspensions
- Île-de-France: numerous lines suspended preventively
- Further disruptions expected on Saturday
SNCF Réseau recommended that travelers postpone their journeys “where possible,” adding that services would resume gradually once weather conditions improve and safety inspections are completed.
Storm Follows Deadly Flooding in Southern France
The arrival of Storm Austen comes just days after violent weather in southern France claimed four lives, heightening concerns about the severity of this autumn’s weather patterns. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as the storm progresses northeastward across the country.
