The mighty storm of Austen has hit France and Great Britain, leaving about 300 thousand residences in France and about 12,000 in Britain without power. Strong winds and heavy rainfall have caused disruptions of railway and air transport, as well as difficulties in road flow.
Winds have reached speeds of up to 179 miles per hour, dropping trees and scattering debris on the street. Difficult weather conditions have hampered traffic, while moving on some bridges has been difficult.
The French power distribution company Enedis announced that approximately 300 thousand subscribers had lost electricity. Larger disruptions were recorded in Brettany, west of France, and in Normandy, north of the country.
In Great Britain, the National Grid operator announced that his teams were working to restore electricity supplies to more than 12,000 residences.
Railway, air transport break
The effects of the storm have also been felt in transportation. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot warned of considerable disruptions in railway lines linking Paris to surrounding areas, while the flow of trains in Normandy was completely suspended.
Problems are also recorded in air transport. Several flights to Paris’s Charles de Gaulle airport headed for Orly Airport. According to Tabarots, further deviations to airports in France and other European countries were expected.
The French meteorological service has issued orange alarms for most of the country’s northwest, warning that strong winds and storms will continue until Friday evening.
Britain prepares for next storm
In the meantime, Great Britain is preparing for another storm, called Boeolo, which is expected to affect Northern Ireland, Scotland, and some areas of northern England over the weekend.
According to the British Meteorological Service, heavy rainfall will spread from the west on Saturday, while it is also expected to strengthen the winds. In the most exposed areas, their speed can reach between 70 and 129 miles [112 and 129 km] an hour, increasing the risk of flooding, material damage, and transportation cuts.
Authorities have called on citizens to attend official reports and be cautious during the trips. Meanwhile, emergency teams and energy company employees are continuing to manage the effects of the storm and restore electricity supply.
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