Strong Winds: Power Outages and Ongoing Interventions in the South of France

Sunday, March 9, 2025, several departments in the South of France were swept by strong winds, causing power outages and numerous emergency interventions. The Bouches-du-Rhône department was placed under an orange alert until 4 p.m., with gusts reaching 100 km/h along the coast and in the Pays d’Aix, before returning to a yellow alert in the afternoon, according to Météo-France.

Bouches-du-Rhône: Homes Without Power and Fires Prevented

Enedis reported that 2,500 homes were without electricity in the early afternoon, including 1,800 in Aix-en-Provence and several hundred in Marseille, Lambesc, and Pelissanne. A cable torn by the wind triggered a fire in the Cengle massif, which was quickly brought under control by 45 firefighters. Emergency services also intervened 176 times, mainly for fallen trees and flying objects.

Hérault and Dordogne: Persistent Power Cuts

In Hérault, under an orange alert throughout the morning, 600 homes remained without power, particularly in the high cantons such as La-Salvetat-sur-Agoût and Fraisse-sur-Agoût. In Dordogne, where the alert was yellow, 380 homes were still without power on Sunday morning, with repairs underway for a return to normal expected later in the day.

Record Gusts and Ongoing Vigilance

The orange alert was lifted in Tarn and Haute-Garonne after gusts reached 125 km/h, particularly at Castres-Mazamet Airport. Météo-France indicates that the winds should gradually subside but urges caution, especially in coastal areas.