Severe thunderstorms swept across large parts of France on Thursday, July 16, causing considerable damage in numerous regions. The first storm cells moved in during the late afternoon before the severe weather spread across a wide area in the evening. A broad swath through central France was particularly affected before the storms moved eastward.
The severe weather brought everything that makes summer storms so dangerous: torrential rain, exceptionally high lightning activity, storm gusts reaching up to 120 kilometers per hour in some places, and in some cases unusually large hailstones. Within minutes, roads turned into hazardous zones.
Hail in particular left clear traces of destruction. Numerous vehicles were damaged. Shattered rear and side windows, cracked windshields, and bodywork covered in hailstones were a common sight in many places. Those affected described the dramatic moments on social media. One driver reported that his rear window had been completely shattered after the hailstorm – an impressive illustration of the storm’s force.
However, it was not only vehicles that suffered under the extreme weather conditions. Fallen trees and broken branches blocked roads and hampered traffic. Power outages occurred temporarily in several regions after lines were damaged or trees fell onto overhead power lines. House roofs and facades were also not spared by the powerful wind gusts and hail. Emergency services were deployed in many places well into the night to secure hazardous areas and clear up the aftermath of the storms.
Weather services had already warned numerous departments of severe thunderstorms in advance and issued the second-highest warning level. According to meteorologists, the volatile weather situation was caused by the collision of the hot air masses that had flowed in beforehand with significantly cooler air. This combination is considered ideal breeding ground for particularly powerful storm cells.
There are no signs of a rapid easing in the weather situation for the time being. Another thunderstorm front had already been forecast for the following day, which could once again affect large parts of France and bring similar accompanying conditions in some areas.