Widespread Flooding and Storm Nils Batter France, Triggering Evacuations and Red Alerts

Storm Nils Unleashes Devastation Across Southwest France

France is currently experiencing widespread flooding following the passage of Storm Nils, which swept across the country from approximately February 11 to February 14, 2026. The severe weather event, also referred to as Ulrike by Freie Universität Berlin, has led to significant disruption, particularly in the southwestern regions of Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie.

Météo-France issued red alerts for wind, flood, and avalanche, highlighting the storm's 'uncommon strength'. The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMSR866) was activated on February 11 to monitor the unfolding crisis.

Record Water Levels and Mass Evacuations

The Garonne River and its tributaries have been particularly impacted, with Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne departments placed under red flood alerts. Water levels in the Garonne reached critical thresholds. As of February 13, the river measured 8.27 meters, surpassing historic levels recorded in 2006. By the morning of February 14, the Garonne at Tonneins registered 9.56 meters, exceeding 2021 levels, while at Marmande, it reached 10.20 meters, close to its 2021 peak.

The escalating floodwaters have necessitated extensive evacuations. Approximately 900 people were evacuated from 20 communes in Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne by February 14. Residents in villages along the Garonne, including Tonneins, were moved to safety on Thursday evening, February 12. Authorities have expressed concerns about potential dike breaches, which could trigger further rapid evacuations.

Casualties, Power Outages, and Infrastructure Damage

The storm has resulted in at least two confirmed fatalities. One death occurred in the Landes department when a truck driver was struck by a falling tree branch. A second victim was found in his garden in Tarn-et-Garonne. Additionally, 26 people sustained injuries across the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and Occitanie regions.

Power infrastructure suffered significant damage, leading to widespread outages. At its peak, up to 900,000 homes were without electricity across the affected regions. While service was gradually restored, approximately 182,000 households remained without power by Saturday morning, February 14. The storm also caused considerable disruption to transportation, with numerous roads closed and train services canceled. Schools in departments such as Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales were also closed due to the severe weather conditions.