At least two people lost their lives in France overnight as powerful storms swept across the country following a prolonged heatwave. At the same time, 53,000 households were left without electricity, according to French media reports and grid operator Enedis.
How a falling tree and a lightning strike claimed two lives
In Saint-Victurnien, in the central department of Haute-Vienne, a woman was killed after a tree fell on her on Thursday evening (July 16). In Dolomieu, in eastern France, a man was found charred inside a workshop that caught fire after being struck by lightning, according to a report by Agence France-Presse.
Meanwhile, grid operator Enedis announced on Friday (July 17) that 53,000 households remain without power, with outages affecting primarily the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France and Nouvelle-Aquitaine in the southwest.
Une tornade a été observée sous l’orage supercellulaire dans la vallée du Gier avant d’arriver sur le Rhône. Des dégâts sont signalés entre le sud du Rhône et le Nord-Isère.
Vidéo: Mathis Tosalli pic.twitter.com/AgjTvdy2Yd— Lyon Météo (@LyonMeteo69) July 16, 2026
The latest on the weather situation
French meteorological agency Météo-France has lifted the orange storm warning for all southeastern French departments that were previously affected, having earlier issued alerts for hail and strong wind gusts stretching from the Massif Central to the Alps.
INTEMPÉRIES : Une tornade a traversée l’autoroute A72 au nord de Saint-Etienne ce soir lors d’un violent orage. Nombreux dégâts signalés, des camions ont été renversés. pic.twitter.com/QlekrqR3XK
— Infos Françaises (@InfosFrancaises) July 16, 2026
