Key facts
- Storm Austen caused power cuts for 161,000 households in northwestern France.
- Wind gusts reached 161 km/h in Finistère, France.
- Over 16,000 homes lost power in the UK's southwest.
- Storms are intensifying as temperatures rise.
Storm Austen swept across northwestern France on Friday, causing significant disruption and leaving 161,000 households without electricity, particularly in Brittany, Pays de la Loire, and Normandy. The storm, named by UK forecasters, brought violent gusts, with speeds reaching 161 km/h along the coast in Finistère. Fallen trees disrupted rail traffic, and bridges in Seine-Maritime were closed. The storm also affected the UK, with over 16,000 homes losing power in the southwest, and was forecast to bring strong winds to Germany. This follows recent severe weather, including Storm Adam which caused flooding and fatalities in Spain and southern France.