Over 240,000 households lost power across western and northern France Friday
Over 240,000 households lost power in western and northern France on Friday evening, according to one report.
Event / Disaster
France Storm Sequence October 2026
A succession of storms, including Storm Austen and Storm Boelo, has affected France in late October 2026. Storm Austen left more than 240,000 households without power in western and northern France on 23 October. Storm Boelo prompted orange rain-flood vigilance in the Pas-de-Calais from the evening of 24 October until 04:00 on 25 October, with forecast rainfall of 30 to 50 mm.
9 reported locations
Daily activity
12 articles2 articles
2026-10-22 to 2026-10-24 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 22 Oct, 08:22 UTC
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What happened
Météo-France forecasts 30 to 50 mm of rain from storm Boelo
Météo-France forecasts cumulative rainfall of generally 30 to 50 millimetres from the new rain episode. The rainfall is expected to add to the totals already recorded during storm Austen. Rain is forecast from midday on the northwest quarter of France, particularly over Pas-de-Calais, with a more intense phase in the middle of the night from Saturday to Sunday.
More than 240,000 households lost power in western and northern France on Friday evening
More than 240,000 households were without electricity in western and northern mainland France on Friday evening, 23 October 2026, as a result of storm Austen.
Storm Boelo followed storm Austen within less than 48 hours
Storm Austen and the subsequent Boelo weather system crossed France within less than 48 hours of each other, with Boelo arriving after Austen.
Pas-de-Calais placed under orange rain-flood alert for Saturday evening
Météo-France placed the Pas-de-Calais department under orange rain-flood vigilance on Saturday 24 October 2026. The alert starts between approximately 20:00 and 21:00 local time and remains in effect until 04:00 on Sunday 25 October, due to the Boelo weather system following storm Austen.
Storm Austen is the first autumn storm of the year, hitting vegetation weakened by summer drought
Météo-France described Storm Austen as the first autumn storm of 2026. Vegetation in the affected areas has been weakened by the intense drought of the summer of 2026.
Storm track remains uncertain, with neighboring departments possibly upgraded to orange
Météo-France stated that the trajectory of Storm Austen remains uncertain and that departments close to those already under orange vigilance could have their alert level raised.
Gusts forecast at 80 to 90 km/h in Île-de-France and up to 120 km/h on the coast
Météo-France forecast gusts of 80 to 90 km/h in Île-de-France on 23 October 2026, locally up to 100 km/h, and gusts of about 120 km/h on the coastline.
Gusts forecast up to 120 km/h inland and 130 to 140 km/h on the Manche coast
Météo-France forecast gusts of up to 120 km/h inland in the Manche department and 130 to 140 km/h on the coast, with winds not expected to ease significantly until late afternoon on 23 October 2026.
Rail traffic interrupted on Normandy lines and partly on Breton and northern lines
On 23 October 2026, rail traffic was interrupted on Normandy lines and partially interrupted on Breton and northern lines due to Storm Austen. The state rail operator SNCF announced the disruptions.
Manche prefecture restricts travel near the coastline, including beach access
The prefecture of the Manche department issued an order restricting travel in areas near the coastline, including restricting access to beaches, in response to Storm Austen.
Enedis has more than 2,000 staff ready to restore power once conditions allow
Enedis stated that more than 2,000 employees are ready to intervene to restore electricity as soon as weather conditions permit, following the outages caused by Storm Austen on 23 October 2026.
Route du Rhum village in Saint-Malo closed on Friday morning due to the storm
The Route du Rhum village in Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine, was closed on the morning of 23 October 2026 because of Storm Austen. The village is expected to host more than one million people before the solo transatlantic race departs on 1 November 2026.
Wind gusts of 120 to 140 km/h recorded on Breton and western Manche coasts overnight
Overnight into 23 October 2026, wind gusts of 120 to 140 km/h were recorded on the Breton coast and the western coast of the Manche department as Storm Austen passed through the English Channel.
Storm Austen moves across the Channel and toward northern Hauts-de-France
Storm Austen crossed the Manche overnight from Thursday to Friday, 22 to 23 October 2026. By 6:00 on Friday it was positioned off the Cotentin peninsula, and during Friday it was moving north toward northern Hauts-de-France.
About 161,000 households lose electricity due to Storm Austen
At 7:00 on 23 October 2026, about 161,000 households were without electricity because of Storm Austen. The outages were concentrated in Brittany (128,000 households), Pays de la Loire (19,000) and Normandy (14,000). The outages were confirmed by the electricity distributor Enedis.
Météo-France places 23 departments under orange wind alert as Storm Austen arrives
On 23 October 2026, Météo-France placed 23 departments in western, northwestern and northern France under orange wind vigilance. The departments include the Île-de-France region, Oise, Aisne, Calvados, Manche, Orne, Eure, Seine-Maritime, Finistère, Côtes-d'Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine, Morbihan, Loire-Atlantique, Nord, Pas-de-Calais and Somme, among others.
Pas-de-Calais already under orange alert and monitored for vulnerability after prior rain
The Pas-de-Calais department was already under orange vigilance on 23 October 2026. Météo-France is monitoring it closely because the department has been weakened by rainfall in preceding days.
Wind gusts of 90 to 110 km/h recorded in Finistère overnight
During the night of 22 to 23 October 2026, wind gusts of roughly 90 to 110 km/h were recorded in the Finistère department as Storm Austen moved through the region.
Rail disruptions expected on Saturday 24 October
SNCF announced that rail disruptions are expected on Saturday 24 October 2026 as a result of Storm Austen.
Numerous trees fall during Storm Austen in France
Numerous trees fell across France during Storm Austen on 23 October 2026, as the storm passed over the northern and western regions.
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2 alternative perspectives
Pas-de-Calais placed under orange rain-flood alert ahead of Saturday evening
Pas-de-Calais faces an orange rain-flood alert Saturday evening as storm Boelo forecasts 30 to 50 mm of rain.
Normandy rail lines disrupted as further disruptions are expected Saturday
Rail disruption is expected across France on Saturday 24 October, following interruptions on Normandy lines.
Some 161,000 households lose power as Enedis readies over 2,000 staff
Enedis has over 2,000 staff ready to restore power to about 161,000 households once storm conditions allow.
Breton coastal gusts reach 140 km/h as trees fall across France
Storm Austen brought recorded gusts of up to 140 km/h and numerous reported tree falls across France.
Manche restricts coastline movement and beach access as storm arrives
Manche restricts coastline movement and beach access, and Saint-Malo's Route du Rhum village closed Friday morning.
Power cuts reach 161,000 Breton households as rail lines halt
About 161,000 Breton households lost power while rail traffic was suspended or interrupted across several regions.
Overnight gusts reach 140 km/h as orange alerts expand across France
Storm Austen's overnight gusts reached 140 km/h, and 23 departments are now under orange wind vigilance.
Yellow wind alerts extend to inland departments including Mayenne, Essonne and Aube
Several inland departments are under yellow wind vigilance, with the strongest gusts forecast for Friday.
Waves of 6 to 9 metres forecast along Breton coasts
Forecast 6 to 9 metre waves raise wave-submersion risk on Breton coasts, with alerts spreading south-westward.
SNCF suspends and reduces train services across western France
SNCF suspends and reduces train services across western France during Storm Austen.
Five French departments face orange alert as winds reach 140 km/h
Five French departments face orange alert with winds up to 140 km/h and potential storm surge.