Massive hail strikes a town in western France as severe thunderstorms sweep through the region.
PARIS — The City of Lights was temporarily more like the City of Lightning Wednesday after a ferocious thunderstorm brought damaging winds and torrential rains across Paris and central France.
A lightning bolt is seen over the roofs of buildings during a thunderstorm in Paris on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Thibaud MORITZ / AFP) (Photo by THIBAUD MORITZ/AFP via Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
Gusts reached 65-70 mph in Paris, with a gust of 71 mph in Montauban and 73 mph in Muids, according to Meteo France. Over in Bernay, a supercell brought a gust of 78 mph with 2 inches of rain reported in just one hour.
-
TOPSHOT – A lighting bolt lights up the sky as people prepare to leave the beach during a thunder storm over the city of La Baule, in western France, on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP) (Photo by LOIC VENANCE/AFP via Getty Images)
( ) -
A lighting bolt lights up the sky over Sacre Coeur Basilica in Montmartre during a thunderstorm, northern Paris, on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Julie SEBADELHA / AFP) (Photo by JULIE SEBADELHA/AFP via Getty Images)
( ) -
People run for shelter on a street in the 20th Arrondissement during a thunderstorm, in Paris, on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Christophe DELATTRE / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOPHE DELATTRE/AFP via Getty Images)
( ) -
A man runs for shelter on a street in the 20th Arrondissement during a thunderstorm, in Paris, on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Christophe DELATTRE / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOPHE DELATTRE/AFP via Getty Images)
( ) -
A lighting bolt lights up the sky over Sacre Coeur Basilica in Montmartre during a thunderstorm, northern Paris, on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Julie SEBADELHA / AFP) (Photo by JULIE SEBADELHA/AFP via Getty Images)
( ) -
TOPSHOT – This photograph shows a lightning bolt falling near Sacre Coeur Basilica in Montmartre during a thunderstorm, in Paris on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Olivier MORIN / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER MORIN/AFP via Getty Images)
( ) -
A lighting bolt lights up the sky over Sacre Coeur Basilica in Montmartre during a thunderstorm, northern Paris, on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Julie SEBADELHA / AFP) (Photo by JULIE SEBADELHA/AFP via Getty Images)
( ) -
A lighting bolt lights up the sky over Sacre Coeur Basilica in Montmartre during a thunderstorm, northern Paris, on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Julie SEBADELHA / AFP) (Photo by JULIE SEBADELHA/AFP via Getty Images)
( ) -
A cyclist rides in the rain during a thunderstorm in Rue de Bagnolet, Paris, on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Christophe DELATTRE / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOPHE DELATTRE/AFP via Getty Images)
( )
Large hailstones were reported in Peyrehoarde and Montegut, Meteo France said.
Paris’ Orly Airport reported several flight delays due to severe weather, with Charles de Gaulle Airport clocking a gust of 53 mph as the storms blew through.
People run for shelter on a street in the 20th Arrondissement during a thunderstorm, in Paris, on June 25, 2025. (Photo by Christophe DELATTRE / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOPHE DELATTRE/AFP via Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
The storms came amid a blistering heat wave in the heart of France. The high temperature at Paris-Orly was 99 degrees before rapidly cooling off during the thunderstorms.
Meteor France said severe thunderstorms remain possible later into the night with up to 1-2 inches of rain in 1-2 hours, 1-2 inch hail stones, wind gusts of 70-75 mph and frequent lightning.
