At least two people have died and more than 50,000 homes lost electricity after severe thunderstorms swept across central and eastern France on Thursday evening, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
In the village of Saint-Victurnien, in the Haute-Vienne département, a woman was killed when a tree fell onto her property. In Dolomieu, located in the Isère département, a man was found dead in a workshop that caught fire after being struck by lightning. Local authorities confirmed the incidents and urged residents to remain cautious as further storms are expected.
Widespread Disruptions Across Central and Eastern France
Météo-France placed 30 départements on orange alert for thunderstorms, warning of large hailstones, heavy rainfall, and strong winds. The affected areas stretch from the Centre-Val de Loire region through Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and into parts of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The alert remains in effect for Friday morning, with the risk of additional severe weather.
Power outages have been reported across multiple regions, with Enedis, the national electricity grid operator, mobilizing teams to restore service. Over 50,000 households were without electricity as of Friday morning, particularly in rural areas where storm damage to power lines was extensive. Emergency services have been deployed to clear fallen trees and debris from roads.
The storms follow a period of unseasonably warm weather in France, which had raised temperatures across much of the country earlier this week. Meteorologists attribute the sudden shift to a clash between a warm, humid air mass from the Mediterranean and a cooler Atlantic front, a pattern that often triggers violent thunderstorms in late spring and early summer.
France has experienced an increase in extreme weather events in recent years, including heatwaves, floods, and storms, which scientists link to climate change. The country's infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, remains vulnerable to such disruptions, prompting calls for greater investment in resilience measures.
In a related development, the French government has been focusing on energy security and renewable sources. A recent report highlighted how solar power saved Europe €20 billion in gas imports since the Iran conflict began, underscoring the continent's shift toward sustainable energy. However, the current storm damage serves as a reminder of the challenges posed by extreme weather to grid stability.
Local authorities in the affected départements have set up emergency shelters for residents displaced by the storms. In the Haute-Vienne, the prefecture advised residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary and to stay indoors during the storm warnings. Schools in several towns have been closed as a precaution.
The storms also disrupted transport, with some regional train services suspended in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region due to fallen trees on tracks. Air travel at Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport experienced minor delays, though operations have largely returned to normal.
As France grapples with the aftermath, the focus remains on restoring power and ensuring public safety. The orange alert is expected to be lifted later on Friday, but forecasters warn that further thunderstorms could develop over the weekend, particularly in the eastern part of the country.
