-
White storks make strong return in France via nest ‘platforms’ and clipped wings
The Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux shares the conservation challenges in saving these birds from extinction
-
Hosting scheme in south-west France lets newcomers sample lifestyle
Households in nine Dordogne communes volunteer under Mes Nouveaux Voisins scheme
-
French boulangeries demand right for staff to work on May 1 so they can open
Artisan bakery owners can work but employees cannot, while certain industrial bakeries are allowed to remain open with workers
High winds: Five French departments on alert as Storm Diego takes hold
Coastal areas in Vienne, Deux-Sèvres, Charente-Maritime, Puy-de-Dôme and Haute-Loire are set to experience winds of up to 110km/h inland and 120km/h

Five French departments have been placed on an orange weather alert for violent winds as Storm Diego moves eastwards across the country from the Atlantic coast today (April 8).
The departments are: Vienne, Deux-Sèvres, Charente-Maritime, Puy-de-Dôme and Haute-Loire.
🔶 6 dpts en #vigilanceOrange
— VigiMétéoFrance (@VigiMeteoFrance) April 8, 2022
Restez informés sur https://t.co/rJ24zzmmy4 pic.twitter.com/tQMnoGi2CL
In these areas, wind speeds are expected to reach 90-110km/h inland and 120km/h along the coast.
Precipitation could also fall as snow between Normandy and the German border. It is already snowing in the northern Alps above 1,800m.
National weather service Météo France has described this phenomenon as “quite rare” for the month of April, adding that the weather will be “very unsettled” in France today.
The orange alert will begin at noon and come to an end at midnight tonight, when conditions are expected to calm.
There are also 79 departments on a yellow warning for strong winds, covering all but the most northerly and southerly areas of France.
Savoie, on the other hand, has been placed on an orange alert for avalanches, which will last all day and into tomorrow.
Departments prepare for the storm
As Storm Diego moves in from the Atlantic coast, affected departments have been taking measures to limit the impact of the high winds.
In La Rochelle (Charente-Maritime), a pontoon designed to quell choppy waves has been put in place to reduce the effect of the storm on the boats moored there.
Do I need to do anything?
The stormy weather could disrupt telephone lines and electricity supply, and people should also be aware of an increased risk from falling objects such as roof tiles and branches.
Météo France advises that people in orange alert areas stay at home if possible and secure any possessions which could be carried away by the wind.
You can find out more about the alerts through the Météo France website.
Related articles
Heavy rain, snow, 100km/h winds: Storm Diego hits France
Record cold spell: France fears crop damage, but spring to return
Water restrictions on way for south-east France in early drought alert