Severe thunderstorms leave 2 dead and 17 injured, nearly 110 000 homes without power, France
Severe thunderstorms swept across France from June 25 into June 26, 2025, killing two people, injuring at least 17, and leaving more than 110 000 homes without electricity. Flights were disrupted, infrastructure was damaged, and widespread lightning, hail, and winds of up to 140 km/h (87 mph) were recorded.
Lightning strike in France on June 25, 2025. Credit: Leticia
Violent storms hit large parts of France during the afternoon hours of June 25, following a record-breaking heatwave.
The system brought intense convective activity, including hail, flooding, winds up to 140 km/h (87 mph), and over 40 000 lightning strikes across the country. At least two people were killed and more than 17 were injured, including one struck by lightning.
A 12-year-old boy was killed near Montauban (Tarn-et-Garonne) when a tree fell on him during a river outing. A 59-year-old man died in Mayenne after crashing his quad bike into a tree toppled by the storm. An 82-year-old man in Loiret was hospitalized after being struck by lightning, and 16 others sustained injuries requiring medical attention.
By 07:00 local time (LT) on June 26, civil authorities reported around 110 000 households without electricity.
Most outages were concentrated in central and western France, including the Loir-et-Cher department where a localized tornado event uprooted pylons and downed lines. As of midday, 100 000 homes remained without power.
The storms advanced from southwest France through the central regions into Île-de-France and Normandy by the evening. In Paris, hundreds of trees were uprooted, and up to 20% of flights from Orly Airport were cancelled or rerouted. Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport experienced localized flooding due to heavy rainfall.
In the Assemblée nationale, rainwater infiltrated the ceiling during a parliamentary session, disrupting debate and requiring emergency maintenance. Large hailstones up to 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter fell in southwestern departments. In Dordogne, more than 70 homes in the commune of Belvès sustained roof damage from hail.
The French national meteorological service, Météo-France, recorded wind gusts exceeding 130 km/h (81 mph) in Allier and Côte-d’Or, and confirmed over 40 000 lightning strikes within 24 hours.
In the Pyrénées-Orientales, temperatures reached 40°C (104°F) prior to the storm, while Clermont-Ferrand recorded a high of 39.8°C (103.6°F).
By the morning of June 26, all orange (tier-three) storm alerts were lifted. However, yellow (tier-two) warnings remained active in parts of northeast and southeast France due to residual convective instability and will remain active until 00:00 LT on June 27.
Central regions also retained less severe heat alerts, though temperatures were forecast to drop by up to 15°C (27°F) as a brief cold front moved through.
Emergency services responded to more than 2 500 calls during the night, with fire brigades engaged in operations across the most affected regions.
References:
1 Violent storms leave two dead in France – Connexion France – June 26, 2025
2 STORM SURGE Two dead including child as France smashed by storms with Paris swamped by floods & 39k lightning bolts across country – The Sun – June 26, 2025
Reet is a science journalist and researcher with a keen focus on extreme weather, space phenomena, and climate-related issues. With a strong foundation in astronomy and a history of environmental activism, she approaches every story with a sharp scientific lens and a deep sense of purpose. Driven by a lifelong love for writing, and a curiosity about the universe, Reet brings urgency and insight to some of the most important scientific developments of our time.
Commenting rules and guidelines
We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules.