A powerful storm has caused significant disruptions in northwestern Europe, resulting in one reported fatality in France and leaving approximately 1.2 million people without electricity.
This storm is one of the most severe in decades and is on a path toward southern England.
In northwestern France, winds reached speeds exceeding 120 kilometers per hour (75 miles per hour), with gusts reaching hurricane-force levels exceeding 200 km/h (124 mph) in the Finistère department, according to Meteo-France, France’s meteorological agency. These wind speeds set new local records.
According to CNN report, the majority of power outages, affecting around 780,000 individuals, are concentrated in the northwestern Brittany region. Fallen trees and toppled electricity pylons caused these outages. Enedis, a French energy supplier, has mobilized approximately 3,000 personnel and deployed 30 helicopters to restore power to the affected areas.
As of midnight on Wednesday, three administrative regions in Brittany and the northwestern coast were placed under a “red alert,” which is France’s highest level of weather warning, according to the country’s interior ministry.
The storm has also impacted the British Isles and Channel Islands, with red alert warnings in effect. On Jersey Island, all schools and the airport were closed, as indicated on the government’s website.