Overview
- Météo France has issued orange alerts from 04:00 Thursday for violent winds or wave-submersion in Charente-Maritime, Gironde, Landes, Manche, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Vendée and Seine-Maritime.
- A deepening Atlantic depression named Benjamin is forecast to pass near the British Isles overnight, driving an active cold front across France from west to east on Thursday.
- Peak impacts are expected between 06:00 and 12:00, with 100–120 km/h gusts on Atlantic and Channel coasts, locally up to 130 km/h, and 90–110 km/h inland.
- Forecasters warn of thunderstorms, a renewed tornado risk in the northeast, and temporary 120 km/h gusts on exposed relief in the Cévennes, Alps and Jura.
- Fifty-three departments are on yellow vigilance on Wednesday, rising to 86 on Thursday, and meteorologists caution that rapid deepening could trigger upgraded warnings.