French Coast Hit by Storm Darragh: Review and Updates
The Hexagon was swept by the storm. Storm Darragh, which swept across France on Saturday, December 7, caused significant damage, especially in the West and North. Météo France indicates that it is currently heading towards the Massif Central “losing activity in the evening.” Four departments – Ariège, Haute-Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and Hautes-Pyrénées – are still on orange alert this Sunday, December 8, facing snow and the risk of ice.
In the north of France, where gusts of 130 km/h were recorded at Cap Gris-Nez, France 3 reports numerous accidents in Pas-de-Calais, such as trees or a lamppost falling on cars, causing two injuries. Another major damage in Le Touquet, where part of a cinema facade caught fire. The 150 people present in the movie theaters were evacuated, and none were injured.
Impressively, in Coquelles, near Calais, a large part of the roof of the Ehpad Les Terrasses de la Mer was blown away. Firefighters indicate that 150 m2 of roofing was torn off by the winds, as reported by Actu Pas-de-Calais. None of the 93 residents were injured.
In the west of France, it was the power of the swell and the height of the waves that impressed, as you can see in the videos below, taken at Môle des Noires in Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine).
The firefighters carried out 260 interventions in Ille-et-Vilaine between Saturday and Sunday morning, as learned by Ouest-France. The departmental operational center for fire and rescue services (Codis) provides a daily update for Brittany: “There are no injuries, the damage is material with trees on the road, torn electrical cables, roofs blown away.”
More than 50,000 households without electricity in the West. In Brittany and Normandy, the strong winds also caused power outages. In total, about 35,000 households are still without electricity in Brittany on Sunday morning and 16,000 in Normandy, according to the report given Sunday morning by Enedis to Radio France. 600 technicians are also mobilized “to reconnect affected customers,” notes the network manager.
In the South, Pyrénées-Orientales recorded the highest gust this Saturday, with 184 km/h measured at Cap Béar, according to Sud-Ouest newspaper. The department is on orange alert until Monday due to snow and ice.
Regarding transportation, train traffic was severely disrupted on the west coast of France on Saturday. In Pas-de-Calais, Darragh also had consequences on ferry traffic in the English Channel. A return to normal is expected on the rails in the coming hours in Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie, but train traffic will remain very complicated in Normandy until Monday morning.
FAQs Section
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Q: How many households were without electricity in the West due to the storm?
A: More than 50,000 households were without electricity in the West, with 35,000 in Brittany and 16,000 in Normandy.
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Q: What was the highest gust recorded during the storm?
A: The highest gust was recorded at 184 km/h at Cap Béar in Pyrénées-Orientales.
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Q: How many interventions did firefighters carry out in Ille-et-Vilaine?
A: Firefighters conducted 260 interventions in Ille-et-Vilaine between Saturday and Sunday morning.
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Q: Which department in the north of France experienced gusts of 130 km/h?
A: Gusts of 130 km/h were recorded in Pas-de-Calais in the north of France.
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Q: What were the consequences of the storm on train traffic?
A: Train traffic was severely disrupted on the west coast of France, with complications expected in Normandy until Monday morning.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Storm Darragh wreaked havoc on the French coast, causing power outages, property damage, and transportation disruptions. The impact of the storm was felt across various regions, highlighting the importance of preparedness and response measures in the face of extreme weather events.
Tags:
French coast, Storm Darragh, Weather, France, Power outages, Transportation disruptions