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.
3 reported locations
Daily activity
7 articles0 articles
2026-08-25 to 2026-11-08 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 25 Aug, 07:04 UTC
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What happened
41 people injured in Pomas tornado, 15 hospitalized
Forty-one people were injured in the tornado that struck Pomas, with 15 people evacuated to hospital centers. A pregnant woman was injured when her house collapsed; she was buried under a fallen wall but protected by her sofa. The condition of her baby was unknown at the time of reporting. No deaths were reported.
Wind speeds of 117 km/h recorded during Aude storms
Météo France recorded wind gusts of 117 km/h at Arquettes-en-Val and 106 km/h at Lézignan-Corbières during the severe weather event. The same agency recorded over 30 mm of rain in one hour at Castelnaudary between 16:00 and 18:00.
Severe weather damages Tour of Spain stage in Aude
The third stage of the Tour of Spain (Vuelta a España), which started in Gruissan in the Aude, was stopped and cancelled by organizers due to a severe hailstorm. Cyclists were forced to seek shelter less than 20 kilometers from the finish at Font-Romeu in the Pyrénées-Orientales department.
Over 120 firefighters deployed to Pomas tornado response
More than 120 firefighters were deployed to Pomas with specialized support teams. Reinforcements from neighboring departments were called in. Gendarmes were also positioned throughout the night to prevent looting of damaged homes and secure the affected area.
2,800 people lost power after Pomas tornado
Approximately 2,800 households lost electrical power on the evening of August 24 in the communes of Fonctcouverte, Camplong, Souilhe, Raissac d'Aude, Fabrezan, Montmaur, Soupex, Ricaud, Montclar, and La Pomarède. Enedis teams were working on-site to restore power.
300 homes damaged in Pomas tornado
Approximately 300 residential buildings were impacted by the tornado in Pomas. Damage included roofs torn off, houses destroyed by wind, and uprooted trees. Building safety operations were underway to prevent collapses, particularly on ground floors of the most heavily damaged structures.
Tornado strikes Pomas village in Aude department
A tornado struck the village of Pomas in the Aude department on Monday, August 24 at approximately 17:20 (5:20 PM). The tornado formed south of Carcassonne under a particularly violent supercellular storm system and moved toward the Minervois and western Hérault before dissipating.
Two emergency shelters opened for tornado victims
Two emergency accommodation centers were opened for tornado victims on the night of August 24: one at the Pomas community hall and another in Limoux (La Tuilerie). The shelters provided temporary housing for residents displaced from damaged homes.
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.