A powerful tornado ripped through a village in southwestern France on August 24, 2026, injuring 41 people and causing significant damage to hundreds of homes, as reported by authorities.
French authorities issued an orange alert for storms across portions of the southwest, leading to widespread power outages and transportation disruptions in several areas.
The Aude region faced the cancellation of the Vuelta a España cycling race’s third stage due to a hailstorm. Cyclists sought shelter when the storm hit, interrupting the event.
Footage from the village of Verzeille showed the formation of a tornado beneath a severe supercell thunderstorm south of Carcassonne.
The village of Pomas, with around 1,000 residents, suffered extensive damage with an estimated 300 homes affected, some losing their roofs entirely.
Local authorities confirmed the deployment of more than 120 emergency workers to aid those impacted, with 15 injured individuals transported to hospitals.
This group included a pregnant woman who sustained injuries after her house collapsed, her husband informed AFP.
Meteo-France revealed that wind speeds peaked at 73 miles per hour in the nearby village of Arquettes-en-Val.
Southern France faced widespread disruption to transportation, with trains delayed, roads closed, and airports in Bordeaux, Marseille, Nice, Toulouse, and even Paris experiencing delays and cancellations, stated Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot.
An estimated 2,800 homes lost power across 10 villages.
France typically experiences several dozen tornadoes each year.
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