France recently witnessed the fury of nature with the passage of storm Domingos. Departments in its path suffered high winds and power outages, while emergency services were strained.
Impact on the power grid and emergency response
Overnight, Storm Domingos caused massive power outages. Nearly 22,800 homes were plunged into darkness shortly after midnight, according to reports from Le Figaro. Sud Ouest and France Bleu also reported that more than 25,000 and 26,000 households, respectively, were affected in Gironde, with a significant concentration of outages north of the Belin-Beliet/Coutras line.
The fire and rescue services were called upon multiple times. The fire and rescue department recorded 360 interventions, mainly for trees obstructing the tracks and damaged electrical cables. Firefighters, numbering 800, were mobilized to respond to these emergencies.
Devastating winds and impassable roads
Meteo France readings indicated gusts reaching 152 km/h in Lège-Cap-Ferret and 122 km/h in Bordeaux-Mérignac. These winds caused numerous trees to fall, some blocking roads and crushing vehicles, fortunately without causing any casualties.
Traffic was severely disrupted. Several roads in Gironde will remain closed until further notice, and the circulation of TER as well as buses and trams in the Bordeaux Metropolis has been suspended, seriously affecting regional mobility.
The threat of submersion and precautionary measures
The storm also raised concerns about the risk of flooding. A surge of around 1.5 meters was expected in Gironde, according to Sud Ouest. In anticipation, access to beaches and certain forest areas has been prohibited, and the authorities have recommended limiting travel.
European impacts and climate considerations
Domingos’ reach has extended beyond French borders, with at least 19 deaths reported in different European countries. This extreme weather phenomenon takes place in a context of climate change, which could exacerbate the frequency and intensity of such events.
Review and Prospects
As Gironde and other departments begin to assess the damage and recover from the storm, weather forecasts remain vigilant for the next depressions that could follow. Vigilance remains essential, and meteorological services continue to closely monitor changes in climatic conditions.
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