Power outages affect 7,250 customers across Languedoc-Roussillon region
7,250 customers lost power across Languedoc-Roussillon following the tornado.
Event / Disaster
Pomas Tornado August 2026
A tornado struck the village of Pomas in southwestern France on August 24, 2026, damaging approximately 300 homes, injuring 41 people, and causing widespread power outages. The storm also led to the cancellation of a Tour of Spain stage.
5 reported locations
Daily activity
7 articles0 articles
2026-08-25 to 2026-11-08 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 25 Aug, 07:04 UTC
Follow the documented timeline or explore the related reporting.
What happened
300 homes damaged in Pomas tornado
300 residential buildings were impacted by the tornado in Pomas. Roofs were torn off structures and debris including wood, metal sheeting, fiberglass insulation, and wire fencing was scattered across surrounding fields.
7,250 customers without electricity across Languedoc-Roussillon region
Following the tornado, 7,250 customers lost electricity across the Languedoc-Roussillon region as of 06:30 on August 26, 2026. The outages included 5,250 in Hérault, 1,600 in Aude, 300 in Gard, and 100 in Pyrénées-Orientales departments. Additionally, 1,400 households remained without power at 08:00.
Météo-France had issued orange alert for severe storms in Aude
Météo-France had placed several departments in southwestern France, including Aude, under orange alert for thunderstorms, warning of locally violent weather phenomena before the tornado struck Pomas.
Emergency response deployed with 75 firefighters in Pomas
75 firefighters from Pomas and surrounding areas were engaged in rescue and verification operations throughout the night of August 25-26, 2026. Additional specialists and canine units from Hérault and reinforcements from Haute-Garonne SDIS assisted in the response.
39 people injured in Pomas tornado, 2 in critical condition
The tornado in Pomas resulted in 39 injured people, including 2 in critical condition (urgence absolue). A previous count on the evening of August 25 listed 41 people treated at the victim gathering post, with 15 evacuated to hospitals.
Road closures and structural assessment underway in Pomas
Several roads in Pomas remained closed to traffic following the tornado. Building audits were conducted to assess structural fragility and evaluate collapse risks. Temporary sheltering of displaced residents took place at Pomas municipal hall with Red Cross assistance, with some rehoused with family and neighbors in surrounding communes.
Tornado strikes Pomas, Aude on August 25, 2026
A violent tornado struck the village of Pomas in the Aude department on August 25, 2026 at approximately 17:20 (5:20 PM). The tornado caused widespread destruction including roofs being torn off buildings and houses damaged by powerful winds.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez expresses support for affected residents
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez issued a statement on social media expressing support for residents of Pomas affected by the tornado, describing it as exceptionally violent.
Displaced residents sheltered in community centers
Displaced residents from Pomas were temporarily sheltered at the village polyvalent hall with Red Cross assistance. Two emergency shelter centers were opened overnight, one at Pomas polyvalent hall and another in Limoux, with residents also being rehoused with family and in neighboring communes.
Tour d'Espagne stage cancelled due to hailstorm
The third stage of the Tour d'Espagne, departing from Gruissan in Aude, was permanently cancelled by race organizers due to a hailstorm accompanying the tornado system.
Transport disruptions across southern France
Storms across southern France caused major disruptions to all transport modes including roads, rail, and air traffic. Rail traffic was interrupted between Narbonne and Sète. Multiple roads remained closed due to fallen trees and emergency response operations.
Emergency response mobilizes 120+ firefighters
Over 120 firefighters were deployed in response to the tornado in Pomas, with additional reinforcements from neighboring departments expected. Gendarmes secured the area throughout the night to prevent looting. Tarp operations to weatherproof damaged buildings began Tuesday morning.
Tornado strikes Pomas, Aude with 39 injured
A tornado struck the commune of Pomas in Aude at approximately 17:20 on Monday afternoon, injuring 39 people including two in critical condition. The tornado destroyed or damaged 300 of the 476 houses in the village within approximately 5 minutes. Wind gusts reached 117 km/h at Arquettes-en-Val and 106 km/h at Lézignan-Corbières during the event.
7,250 households lose electricity in southern France
Storm damage across Languedoc-Roussillon left 7,250 households without electricity by 6:30 AM Tuesday. Power outages affected 5,250 households in Hérault, 1,600 in Aude, 300 in Gard, and 100 in Pyrénées-Orientales. By Tuesday morning, 1,400 households in Aude remained without power.
Météo-France issued tornado warning before impact
Météo-France had placed multiple southwestern departments including Aude under orange alert for severe storms. At 14:30, special monitoring for significant tornado risk between Aude and Hérault was issued. The tornado formed within a classical supercell structure with identified conditions of high instability and intense wind shear.
Power outages affect thousands in Languedoc-Roussillon region
Approximately 2,800 to 7,250 households in the Languedoc-Roussillon region lost electrical power due to the tornado and related storms. By Tuesday morning, 1,400 households in Aude remained without electricity, with additional outages in Hérault, Gard, and Pyrénées-Orientales.
Multiple road closures around Pomas after tornado
Several roads remained closed to traffic on Tuesday following the tornado, including the D43 and D504 around Pomas and other departmental axes in Aude. Closures were maintained to facilitate emergency response operations.
Emergency response mobilizes over 120 firefighters and military personnel
More than 120 firefighters were mobilized to respond to the tornado, supported by gendarmes (military police) for area security and debris operations. Operations continued throughout the night and into the following morning, with 75 sappers-pompiers (firefighters) still engaged in verification operations by Tuesday morning.
Tornado strikes Pomas, Aude on August 24, 2026
A tornado struck the commune of Pomas in the Aude department on Monday, August 24, 2026, around 5:20 PM (17h20). The phenomenon was of rare intensity and affected the village of approximately 1,000 inhabitants in the Corbières region south of Carcassonne.
Approximately 300 homes damaged in Pomas tornado
Approximately 300 residential buildings were impacted by the tornado. Many roofs were torn off and houses were destroyed. Structural assessments were ongoing to identify buildings at risk of collapse.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
Structural assessments reveal full tornado damage scope in Pomas
Structural assessments underway across Pomas after tornado damaged 300 homes and injured 39 people.
Tour d'Espagne stage cancelled as hailstorm disrupts southern France transport
Hailstorm forces Tour d'Espagne cancellation and transport disruptions across southern France.
Power restored as infrastructure repairs accelerate across tornado zone
Infrastructure recovery underway: 7,250 households lost power; 120+ firefighters deployed; residents sheltered in community centers.
Pomas evacuation complete as emergency response scales to 120+ personnel
Pomas village evacuated after tornado injures 39-41, damages 300 homes, mobilizes 120+ responders.
Tour of Spain stage halted by severe weather in southern France
Tour of Spain stage disrupted by severe weather in Gruissan, Aude.
Tornado devastates Pomas, injuring 41 and damaging 300 homes
Tornado hits Pomas, injures 41, damages 300 homes, leaves 2,800 without power.