Météo-France issues Orange Alert for 23 departments due to strong winds, heavy rain, and hail

Météo-France has placed 23 departments under an orange weather alert for Friday, August 28, 2026, anticipating strong winds with gusts exceeding 110 km/h (68 mph), heavy rain up to 30 mm/hour, and hail measuring 2-5 cm in diameter. These conditions pose a risk of localized flooding and storm damage. This alert follows a destructive tornado earlier this week in Pomas, southern France, which damaged over 300 homes. Additionally, a heatwave with temperatures reaching 40°C (104°F) is expected in Corsica.