Storm Carmen hit western parts of France on Monday, January 1, 2018, bringing heavy rain and wind gusts up to 130 km/h (81 mph). At least one person has been killed and 65,000 customers left without power in the third and strongest storm to hit France this winter. The fourth named storm – Eleanor – is expected to hit the country with strength comparable to Carmen today and tomorrow. Orange Alerts are in effect across 21 departments today and tomorrow. There was no major damage reported by Monday afternoon, according to local media reports.
However, French power grid company Enedis said some 65,000 of its customers in Brittany, Pays-de-la-Loire, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine in the country’s west were left without power. According to RFI, one man was killed when a tree hit his car in Saint-Jean-de-Port in French Basque Country. With Carmen now away, Meteo France placed 21 departments on Orange Alert as the country braces for yet another strong storm – Eleanor. In addition, the Finistere coastline is on alert for particularly intense waves which may breach beach walls and other coastline barriers, and cause flooding. READ MORE
