The devastating aftermath of Storm Nils continues to wreak havoc across southwestern France, with authorities confirming two fatalities and maintaining critical flood alerts through the weekend. According to the national weather service Météo-France, the storm's impact has been severe, particularly in regions already grappling with rising water levels.
Fatalities Confirmed as Storm Moves Eastward
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon provided sobering details during a televised address on TF1, revealing that France has recorded two deaths directly linked to Storm Nils. The first occurred on Thursday in the Landes department, while a second victim was discovered "in the last hours" in Tarn-et-Garonne. Bregeon identified the second casualty as a man found deceased in his garden, highlighting the storm's deadly reach into residential areas.
Widespread Power Outages and Restoration Efforts
Network operator Enedis reported that Storm Nils caused massive disruption to electricity services, with up to 900,000 customers experiencing power outages at the peak of the storm. By Friday morning, restoration teams had managed to reconnect approximately half of those affected, deploying an extensive workforce of 3,000 personnel, including 2,100 specialized technicians working around the clock to repair damaged infrastructure.
Persistent Flood Threats Along the Garonne River
Despite wind alerts being lifted, flood vigilance remains at its highest level in several departments. Météo-France has maintained red flood alerts for Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne, warning residents that these critical warnings will remain in place throughout Saturday due to what they describe as "a significant Garonne river flood episode." The weather service emphasized that Storm Nils possessed "uncommon strength" when it swept inland from France's western seaboard overnight Wednesday into Thursday.
Storm's Path and European Impact
Météo-France tracking indicates that Storm Nils has now moved eastward, continuing its trajectory into other parts of Europe. The storm's rapid development and intensity have been noted as particularly unusual for this time of year, with meteorologists monitoring its ongoing effects across the continent. The combination of heavy rainfall and already saturated ground conditions has created perfect conditions for dangerous flooding scenarios that authorities warn could persist even as the storm system moves away from French territory.
Emergency services remain on high alert throughout affected regions, coordinating response efforts between local authorities, utility companies, and national agencies. Residents in flood-prone areas have been advised to exercise extreme caution, avoid unnecessary travel near waterways, and follow official evacuation instructions if issued. The French government has activated additional resources to support communities dealing with the storm's aftermath while monitoring weather patterns for any further developments.
