Storm Herminia: Strong winds, heavy rain, and orange alerts this Sunday

A new storm, Herminia, will hit western France on Sunday, January 26, following storm Éowyn, which already saturated soils in Brittany. Météo-France has issued orange alerts for strong winds in Finistère, Côtes-d’Armor, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and Hautes-Pyrénées.

Powerful winds and impressive gusts
Gusts are expected to reach up to 130 km/h along the coasts and around 100 km/h inland in Brittany. In the Pyrenees, winds will range between 110 and 120 km/h in mid-altitude areas and could exceed 150 km/h on exposed ridges and mountain passes. Winds will intensify from 6 a.m. in Brittany and will grow stronger in the Pyrenees by midday.

Heavy rain on saturated soils
Significant rainfall is forecast, worsening the situation in areas where soils are already waterlogged, particularly in Brittany. Departments already under orange alert for flooding on Saturday – Ille-et-Vilaine, Calvados, Mayenne, Seine-Maritime, and Oise – will remain on alert Sunday. Vigicrues warns of potential localized flooding in the affected areas.

Continued severe weather
Winds are expected to intensify again Sunday evening, reaching central and eastern regions. On Monday, heavy rainfall is possible in the Alpes-Maritimes and Hautes-Alpes, while a strong swell is forecast for the Basque and Gironde coasts on Tuesday.

Sunday will be relatively mild, with temperatures ranging from 2°C in Lille to 18°C in Perpignan.