Storm Nils, an exceptionally powerful system, continues its eastward movement across France, bringing strong winds, major floods in the southwest, and heavy snowfall in the Alps.
After sweeping through the southwest on Thursday, the low-pressure system produced gusts exceeding 150–160 km/h along the Atlantic coast and near the Mediterranean, though they began to weaken by the end of the day.
The storm has already claimed at least one life, a 55-year-old truck driver killed when a tree branch pierced his windshield, and a 59-year-old local authority worker was seriously injured during an intervention.
Heavy rainfall has caused major flooding of the Garonne River and its tributaries, with significant overflows in multiple areas of the basin. In La Réole (Gironde), water levels are expected to reach 8.9 to 9.7 meters, prompting evacuations and major disruptions.
Several departments remain under red alert for flood risk (notably Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne) and avalanche risk in Alpine regions. Other areas are under orange alert due to strong winds and snow.
The storm has also led to widespread power outages. Network operator Enedis reported hundreds of thousands of households without electricity Thursday evening, while maritime links between Corsica and the mainland and numerous flights were canceled for safety.
Road and rail traffic has been severely disrupted in multiple departments due to fallen trees, flooding, or landslides.
Authorities have called for maximum vigilance, urging people to limit non-essential travel and follow safety instructions issued by Météo‑France and emergency services.
