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France Braces for Storm ‘Benjamin’ as Météo‑France Puts 7 Coastal Departments on Orange Alert

High-tide timing heightens coastal flooding risk, with the forecast still uncertain.

Overview

  • Météo‑France’s orange alert from late Wednesday night covers Manche, Vendée, Charente‑Maritime, Gironde, Landes and Pyrénées‑Atlantiques for violent winds, with Seine‑Maritime on orange for waves‑submersion, and peak impacts expected Thursday morning.
  • Gusts are forecast at 100–130 km/h on exposed coasts and 90–110 km/h inland as a fast‑deepening depression crosses the Channel, with a squally cold front sweeping west to east through the day.
  • Most other departments are on yellow vigilance for wind, rain or storms as the first autumn storm strengthens and spreads across much of the country.
  • Large waves and a temporary sea‑level rise during high tides raise submersion risk on parts of the Atlantic and Channel coasts, notably in Gironde, Landes, Pyrénées‑Atlantiques and Seine‑Maritime.
  • Forecasters warn of heavy rainfall in some interior and mountain areas, locally 100–120 mm, while uncertainty over the storm’s track and deepening could prompt alert updates; SNCF expects TER cancellations and delays in Nouvelle‑Aquitaine.