Over 600 Lightning Strikes, Huge Hailstones, and Strong Gusts: Massive Storms Shake Normandy

Within a few hours, the sky over the Manche department turned into a spectacle that many residents are unlikely to forget anytime soon. On Wednesday evening, exceptionally strong thunderstorms swept across parts of Normandy – accompanied by more than 600 registered lightning strikes, torrential rain, severe storm gusts, and hailstones of astonishing size. The south and southwest of the department were particularly affected. Around the coastal towns of Jullouville and Carolles, residents reported almost surreal scenes. The sky turned pitch black within minutes, as if someone had switched off the ...