Storm Freya: Swathes of France on alert for gale force winds
Weather warnings have been put in place for gale force winds across almost the whole of the northern half of France as Storm Freya hits, bringing with it gusts of up to a hair-raising 150 km/h. It's just a week since people in France were basking in the delights of an early-spring scorcher.
However on Monday morning orange weather warnings were put in place in 44 departments across the country by national weather agency Meteo France.
The current warnings were put in place on Monday at 6 am and are expected to last until at least 6 am on Tuesday.
The departments concerned are Aisne, Ardennes, Aube, Cher, Côte-d'Or, Doubs, Eure, Eure-et-Loir, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Jura, Loir-et-Cher, Loire-Atlantique, Loiret, Maine-et-Loire, Marne, Haute-Marne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Morbihan, Moselle, Nièvre, Nord, Oise, Pas-de-Calais, Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Haute-Saône, Saône-et-Loire, Paris and the area immediately outside the city known as the "Petite Couronne", Seine-Maritime, Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Somme, Vendée, Vosges, Yonne, Territoire-de-Belfort, Essonne and Val-d'Oise.
Map: Meteo France
"The strong winds associated with Storm Freya hit the western part of the country on Sunday night and will spread to a large northern half Monday (strong gusts up to 90-100 km/h inland, locally 110 km/h on the coast)," said Météo France.
Orange alert is the second highest warning, meaning people in those areas should take precautions due to the risk of dangerous weather conditions.
The winds are expected to really get going at around midday, with winds expected to reach up to 110 km/h locally on Monday, particularly in the Breton department of Finistere, the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy, as well as in Jura, a department in eastern France.
Gales of 150 km/h have already been recorded since the storm hit France on Sunday on Belle-Ile-en-Mer, an island off the coast of Brittany.
While gusts of 120 km/h were recorded Sunday in Camaret-sur-Mer, a town in the Finistere department and gales of 144 km/h were recorded in Groix, another island off the coast of Brittany at 5 am on Monday morning, according to Météo Bretagne.
Parisians struggled to get a good night's sleep as a result of the storm on Sunday, with gusts reaching 138 km/h at 11.40 pm at the top of the Eiffel Tower.
People in the affected regions are advised to be careful particularly in Brittany and on the coast near the English Channel.
Britain, Ireland and the northern half of France will be most affected by the storm.
Comments
See Also
It's just a week since people in France were basking in the delights of an early-spring scorcher.
However on Monday morning orange weather warnings were put in place in 44 departments across the country by national weather agency Meteo France.
The current warnings were put in place on Monday at 6 am and are expected to last until at least 6 am on Tuesday.
The departments concerned are Aisne, Ardennes, Aube, Cher, Côte-d'Or, Doubs, Eure, Eure-et-Loir, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Jura, Loir-et-Cher, Loire-Atlantique, Loiret, Maine-et-Loire, Marne, Haute-Marne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Morbihan, Moselle, Nièvre, Nord, Oise, Pas-de-Calais, Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Haute-Saône, Saône-et-Loire, Paris and the area immediately outside the city known as the "Petite Couronne", Seine-Maritime, Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Somme, Vendée, Vosges, Yonne, Territoire-de-Belfort, Essonne and Val-d'Oise.
Map: Meteo France
"The strong winds associated with Storm Freya hit the western part of the country on Sunday night and will spread to a large northern half Monday (strong gusts up to 90-100 km/h inland, locally 110 km/h on the coast)," said Météo France.
Orange alert is the second highest warning, meaning people in those areas should take precautions due to the risk of dangerous weather conditions.
The winds are expected to really get going at around midday, with winds expected to reach up to 110 km/h locally on Monday, particularly in the Breton department of Finistere, the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy, as well as in Jura, a department in eastern France.
Gales of 150 km/h have already been recorded since the storm hit France on Sunday on Belle-Ile-en-Mer, an island off the coast of Brittany.
While gusts of 120 km/h were recorded Sunday in Camaret-sur-Mer, a town in the Finistere department and gales of 144 km/h were recorded in Groix, another island off the coast of Brittany at 5 am on Monday morning, according to Météo Bretagne.
Parisians struggled to get a good night's sleep as a result of the storm on Sunday, with gusts reaching 138 km/h at 11.40 pm at the top of the Eiffel Tower.
People in the affected regions are advised to be careful particularly in Brittany and on the coast near the English Channel.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.