17 departments in the South West and North West in orange alert on Friday afternoon
France braces for severe weather as 17 departments—spanning the southwest and northwest—are under an orange alert, starting Friday afternoon. Météo-France has issued the warning, citing a “stormy degradation” and the potential for strong winds, heavy rain, and hail. The alert encompasses areas like La Dordogne, Gers, and Pas-de-Calais, amongst others, with wind gusts perhaps reaching 75 mph. Residents should prepare for intense electrical activity and hailstones exceeding .75 inches. News Directory 3 is tracking the developing situation closely,providing updates as they emerge. discover what’s next as these weather systems evolve.
France Issues Storm Alerts Amid Severe Weather risk
Updated June 13, 2025
France’s weather service, Météo-France, has placed 17 departments in the southwest and northwest regions on orange alert, effective Friday afternoon. The warning cites a “stormy degradation” and a high risk of locally violent weather phenomena.
The affected areas include eight departments in the southwest: La Dordogne, Haute-Garonne, Gers, Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and Hautes-Pyrénées. Nine departments in the northwest, encompassing all of Normandy and Mayenne, plus Pas-de-Calais, Sarthe, and Somme, are also under alert.
Forecasters anticipate strong winds in the northwest, potentially reaching 60 to 75 mph in some locales.Heavy rainfall, accumulating to 1 to 2 inches within a few hours, and large hail are also expected.
The southwest faces the threat of significant hailstorms, with hailstones exceeding .75 inches in diameter, coupled with wind gusts around 60 mph in western Occitania and southern New Aquitaine.
Météo-France warns that rainfall in New Aquitaine could reach 1 to 2 inches in a short period, accompanied by intense electrical activity. The agency also cautioned that areas bordering the orange-alert zones could experience localized severe weather.