Tornado with winds over 200 kmh injures dozens, cuts power in southern French village

Story Timeline
7 days · 4 summary articles
A tornado of rare intensity devastated the village of Pomas in southern France on Monday, injuring at least 39 people, including two in critical condition, and leaving over 1,400 homes without power as of Tuesday. Local authorities described the aftermath as resembling a "wartime" scene, with widespread destruction reported across the area. Predict Services, a subsidiary of Météo-France, stated the tornado likely produced winds exceeding 200 km/h, making it one of the strongest to hit southern France .
The tornado struck as France and much of Europe grapple with extreme weather conditions. The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre reported that persistent heat and drought have severely reduced crop yields, particularly in France, southern Germany, northern and central Italy, Austria, and other regions. Maize yields in the Benelux countries, Slovenia, and Croatia have been especially hard hit, while forage shortages threaten livestock across Western and Central Europe. European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen said, “This summer has been particularly difficult for farmers across the EU. Drought and extreme heat are putting crops, fodder, livestock, and farmers’ incomes under increasing pressure” .
Meanwhile, preliminary data compiled by The Guardian indicates that at least 35,000 excess deaths have been linked to successive heatwaves in Europe this summer, with Germany, France, and Spain alone reporting over 25,000 such fatalities. The Robert Koch Institute estimated 14,000 heat-related deaths in Germany between April 6 and August 9, including 9,600 in a single week in late June. The Guardian noted that final figures are expected to rise significantly once August data is fully accounted for .
The European Commission has warned that climate-related hazards, including wildfires, are worsening, with over 600,000 hectares burned across the EU so far in 2026. In a March 2026 communication, the Commission emphasized that prevention and long-term adaptation must play a larger role in Europe’s response to such risks. EU Climate Chief Wopke Hoekstra was quoted by Politico Europe as saying governments must invest in climate-proofing infrastructure or face higher costs later .
In France, authorities have urged rapid public action as heatwave alert levels rise, stressing that health risks can emerge even in the early stages of extreme heat. Western France is also bracing for strong thunderstorms on Wednesday, with forecasts warning of intense storms, hail, and potential flooding .
Follow us for live European news
- 3
- 2
- 2
- 2
- 2
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
- 1
6 further sources not geolocated






