Storm Benjamin to Hit Western France: Winds Over 120 km/h Expected, 19 Regions on Orange Alert
Météo-France has issued a warning as Storm Benjamin is expected to impact western France, bringing severe weather conditions. Between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, winds could exceed 120 km/h. This has prompted 19 regions to enter an orange alert due to violent winds, rain, flooding, and high waves.
Regions Affected by Storm Benjamin
The departments under orange alert for violent winds include:
- Manche
- Vendée
- Charente-Maritime
- Gironde
- Landes
- Pyrénées-Atlantiques
- Deux-Sèvres
- Charente
- Pyrénées-Orientales
- Aude
- Corse-du-Sud
- Haute-Corse
- Somme
- Pas-de-Calais
- Nord
- Puy-de-Dôme
In addition, four departments are on alert for wave-submersion, specifically Seine-Maritime, Gironde, Landes, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The Corrèze department will also experience rain and flooding alert starting Wednesday, with Cantal added later.
Wind and Wave Forecasts
As Storm Benjamin moves toward the Channel, it is expected to generate significant gusts. Winds ranging from 100 km/h to 120 km/h will affect the Atlantic coast and Manche. In the Puy-de-Dôme department, gusts could reach up to 130 km/h. Corsica is forecasted to see even stronger winds, with gusts up to 170 km/h in the Cap Corse region.
The wave hazard will be most pronounced during high tides, making this storm a significant autumn weather event. Météo-France indicated that while the storm’s trajectory remains uncertain, it will progress inland on Thursday, bringing further wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h along with thunderstorms and heavy rain.
Impact on Transportation
The storm is expected to disrupt train services across various regions. TER trains will be suspended on multiple lines, while some services may experience speed reductions. High-speed trains will continue to operate, albeit under potential delays.
Specific Disruptions by Region
- Normandy: Most train lines interrupted, with exceptions for limited routes on the CITI line.
- Brittany: Delays expected on lines between Brest and Quimper, and Brest and Nantes.
- Centre-Val de Loire: Circulation halted on several routes with specific hours of interruption noted.
- New Aquitaine: Around twenty lines closed, impacting major routes like Bordeaux-La Rochelle.
- Hauts-de-France: Service interruption on several lines, with reduced speeds on others.
Residents are advised to remain vigilant and stay updated on weather conditions as Storm Benjamin approaches. As always, safety comes first during extreme weather events.
