Storm Nils has caused widespread disruption across France, leaving around 900,000 homes without electricity and forcing emergency services into large-scale response mode.
The worst power outages were recorded in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie, where authorities deployed approximately 1,400 energy workers to restore supply and stabilize damaged infrastructure.
Flood evacuations in Normandy and Brittany
Alongside wind damage, flooding has also triggered evacuations in Normandy and Brittany, which are among the regions hit hardest by the storm’s impact.
Local authorities moved residents from high-risk areas as water levels rose rapidly and flood conditions intensified.
Transport cancellations and extreme weather warnings
The storm has also disrupted travel across the country. France cancelled some train services, while ferry connections to the island of Corsica were also affected.
Meteorological warnings remain in place, with heavy rain and winds expected to exceed 150 km/h in parts of southern France. Forecasts indicate the system could extend further, potentially reaching northern Spain and Sardinia.
Avalanche risk shuts some ski resorts in the Alps
In the French Alps, authorities have raised avalanche alerts as heavy snowfall and unstable conditions increase the risk of slides.
Some ski resorts have been temporarily closed as a precaution, with local officials warning that the situation could worsen quickly depending on wind direction and further precipitation.
Portugal hit hard: motorway collapse near Coimbra and deadly flooding
Storm impacts have also been severe in Portugal. Authorities reported that part of a major motorway collapsed near Coimbra, highlighting the scale of infrastructure damage.
In the region, around 3,000 people were evacuated due to flooding and the inundation of agricultural land.
Portugal has reported at least 16 deaths, while water levels in several of the country’s largest rivers have reached critical thresholds, raising the risk of further flooding in the coming days.
