Fears of 150kph winds in new storm alert

After a particularly stormy weekend in the south of France, Météo France has this morning put 31 departments on orange alert for violent winds.

Winds of up to 150kph are feared in Brittany with winds reaching 110kph in Limousin and Auvergne. The alert also warns of the threat of storm surge waves sweeping the coastline.

Forecasters say heavy rains will accompany the winds with possible sudden heavy downpours and even wind-driven hail.

The orange alert extends from the tip of Brittany to the Massif Central in central southern France and lasts until tomorrow morning.

It covers the departments of Allier (03), Alpes-Maritimes (06), Cantal (15), Charente (16), Charente-Maritime (17), Cher (18), Corrèze (19), Corse-du-Sud (2A), Haute-Corse (2B), Côtes-d'Armor (22), Creuse (23), Deux-Sèvres (79), Dordogne (24), Finistère (29), Gironde (33), Ille-et-Vilaine (35), Indre (36), Indre-et-Loire (37), Loire (42), Haute-Loire (43), Loire-Atlantique (44), Lozère (48), Maine-et-Loire (49), Mayenne (53), Morbihan (56), Puy-de-Dôme (63), Rhône (69), Var (83), Vendée (85), Vienne (86) and Haute-Vienne (87)

Drivers in Manche and Seine-Maritime in Normandy have also been warned by the prefecture to take special care on the roads, with the risk of falling branches and other wind-blown objects.

While the south of France was facing intense winds at the weekend, skygazers in Iceland were treated to a fine view of the Northern Lights