Severe storms in France leave at least two dead and over 50,000 homes without power

Rescue workers in action after storm Pedro swept across France, on 18 February 2026. - Copyright AP Photo/Yohan Bonnet

By Olivier Tolachides

Published on 17/07/2026 - 11:40 GMT+2•Updated 14:36

Thirty French departments were placed on orange alert for storms on Thursday evening, with a risk of large hail.

The severe thunderstorms that hit France on Thursday evening left at least two people dead, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

In Saint-Victurnien, in the Haute-Vienne département, a woman died after a tree fell. In Dolomieu, in the Isère département, a man was found dead in a workshop that burned down after it was struck by lightning.

Thirty départements across central and eastern France were placed on orange alert for thunderstorms on Thursday evening, with a risk of large hail.

Power grid operator Enedis said on Friday morning that nearly 53,000 households had been affected by by power outages following the severe storms.

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Severe storms in France leave at least two dead and over 50,000 homes without power

Thirty French departments were placed on orange alert for storms on Thursday evening, with a risk of large hail.

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