Story perspectives

Tornado injures 39, leaves 21,000 without power in Aude

8/25/2026

Summary

Tornado Strikes Aude

Tornado struck the Aude region of southern France on August 24, 2026, damaging over 300 homes.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the tornado caused severe damage in the village of Pomas.
Local authorities reported 39 people injured, including two in critical condition.
ENEDIS said about 21,000 households lost electricity, including 1,600 in Aude.
Wind gusts reached 117 km/h, the strongest recorded in Pomas.

Summary

France Battles Wildfire

Record wind gusts of 121 km/h at Pézenas-Tourbes and 146.5 km/h in Vaucluse set new regional highs.
France activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism in July to deploy aerial firefighting aircraft.
The Aude department experienced its largest single wildfire in over fifty years in August 2025, burning thousands of hectares.
Météo-France warned of a storm wave with 30-50 L/m² rain, hail and gusts up to 120 km/h.

History

Historical Context

On 26 December 1999 Cyclone Lothar swept across northern France with gusts exceeding 150 km/h, toppling 300 high-voltage pylons and leaving 3.4 million customers without electricity. Météo-France’s 24-hour warning and EDF’s emergency crews restored power, while the storm’s €15 billion damage prompted Europe-wide upgrades to forecasting models and civil-protection protocols. The event, following the December 1999 Anatol and Martin storms, reshaped national emergency planning.

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Tornado Strikes Aude

Tornado struck the Aude region of southern France on August 24, 2026, damaging over 300 homes.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said the tornado caused severe damage in the village of Pomas.
Local authorities reported 39 people injured, including two in critical condition.
ENEDIS said about 21,000 households lost electricity, including 1,600 in Aude.
Wind gusts reached 117 km/h, the strongest recorded in Pomas.

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