I don’t often associate severe or extreme weather with France, because they just don’t get the same types of storms that we have in the US. And that means I feel a little safer whenever I hear thunder or see the snow start to fall. It can’t possibly be as bad as tornadoes and blizzards that we get in Michigan, I always assume… but then I remember the windstorm of 1999 that killed over 100 people in France, Switzerland, and Germany. Wind was definitely something I never worried much about.
This weekend, the southwest of France is under “vigilance rouge” due to a windstorm. More than a million homes are without electricity, a new wind speed record has been set (184 kph or 114 mph), roads are blocked, and at least one person has died so far. The storm is supposed to continue through tomorrow as well.
I hope everybody stays safe and the wind dies down soon!