Extreme Weather Alert France: Violent Supercell Storms & 3cm Hail Smash Pyrenees to Nantes

Añadido: 2026-05-11

[00:00:10]A series of devastating supercell storms swept across southwestern France starting Saturday, May 9th, 2026, unleashing extreme hail and flash floods.

[00:00:46]This preffrontal weather phenomenon struck the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains all the way to the city of Na, causing localized damage and triggering hundreds of Emergency responses.

[00:01:11]The worst weather peaked Sunday afternoon in the Ary department. Around 6:50 in the evening, heavy hail pounded at Lelay Boude Sir Arri, captured in a video by resident Orai. Earlier at 5:25 in the afternoon, a similar storm hit Lorp Centurai.

[00:01:44]In St. Martin de Caralp, residents reported hailstones the size of pingpong balls slamming onto rooftops. Photos taken 30 minutes after the storm showed callilly plants shredded to pieces. The sky suddenly went dark and the first hailstones hit the ground like a stark reminder of how fast the weather changes, wrote a Pameir's resident, which was also pelted by hail.

[00:02:24]The city of Fua and the Pais dememes area were placed on alert after a major hail stom was detected at 7:50 in the evening. Meanwhile in Dhee, St. Jean de and Viol thunderstorms with heavy rain and hail occurred in succession.

[00:02:58]Verie was hit by hail at 4 in the afternoon before the weather briefly cleared, but the sky turned dark again with temperatures plunging to 14° C.

[00:03:08]Residents remain worried about more hail. The threat did not stop at the Pyrenees. The Basque country and Bayern were next in line. The city of Tarbs was struck by hail up to 3 cm in diameter Sunday afternoon. Roof and vehicle damage was reported. A video by Florent Peruga captured the intensity of the hail there. In POW, authorities issued a severe storm alert.

[00:03:53]supposed to.

[00:04:00]On Saturday, May 9th, at 6:00 in the evening, Na was shocked by thunder and impressive hail. Temperatures plummeted from 23° C to 15° C in minutes.

[00:04:12]Businesses in southern Na were flooded.

[00:04:14]In Buouet, a highly active storm cell unleashed devastating hail.

[00:04:36]Plus recorded 40 mm of rainfall in just 2 hours. Karanos data showed more than 4,000 lightning strikes detected across the region Saturday. 3,500 of them in Ela Aane and Luir Atlantic. Hail measuring 2 cm swept across floors beneath the strongest cells.

[00:05:19]Yeah, it's right.

[00:05:28]The most severe impact was recorded in Herbier County. An active thunderstorm between Lelay Herbers and Sha Berl brought heavy rain and hail. Rainfall totals reached 52 mm in Lebers, 35 mm of which fell in just 12 minutes from 2:18 to 2:30 in the afternoon.

[00:05:49]Heat. Heat.

[00:06:14]St. Cecile recorded 34 mm, Lobbertier 31 mm, and tippages 30 mm. Rainfall rates of 10 to 30 mm per 30 minutes triggered flash floods. Many basements were inundated and firefighters carried out nearly 200 emergency responses. Six accidents occurred on the A87 and A83 highways. Nearly 1,000 lightning strikes were recorded in the department within 2 hours.

[00:06:58]>> Oh yeah. Yeah.

[00:07:10]Sunday morning, a new stormfront moved in from the Atlantic Ocean with moderate electrical activity and heavy rain soaking Morbahan and southern Finisterair. Instability still looms over Eel Aen and Luir Atlantique. Mate O Express urges residents to remain vigilant as new storm cells continue forming near. The storms matched expert forecasts, warning that the Southwest is prone to severe hail in May.