Storm Nils has tragically resulted in two deaths in France, with approximately 450,000 individuals remaining without electrical power as of Friday morning, February 13, 2026. The severe weather event, described by the French meteorological service Meteo-France as possessing "uncommon strength," continues to pose significant risks across the country.
Fatalities and Emergency Response
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon confirmed the two fatalities linked to Storm Nils. One death occurred on Thursday in the Landes department, while a second victim, a man discovered in his garden, was reported "in the last hours" in Tarn-et-Garonne. The storm's intensity has prompted a swift emergency response, with electricity network operator Enedis mobilizing 2,100 technicians to restore power to affected areas.
Widespread Power Outages and Restoration Efforts
At its peak, Storm Nils left up to 900,000 customers without electricity, according to Enedis. By Friday morning, restoration efforts had successfully reconnected around half of those impacted, but 450,000 households and businesses still faced outages. The race to repair infrastructure is ongoing, with crews working tirelessly to mitigate the storm's disruptive effects.
Flood Alerts and Regional Impacts
Key southwestern parts of France remain on high flood alert, with red alerts for Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne expected to persist until Saturday. The storm has also affected neighboring regions, including northern Spain, where red alerts were issued in Galicia, Cantabria, and the Basque Country on Wednesday. Meteo-France reports that Storm Nils, the eighth such event to hit Spain this year, has now moved eastwards into Europe, though its aftermath continues to challenge local authorities.
The situation underscores the severe impact of extreme weather events, highlighting the need for robust preparedness and response strategies in vulnerable areas.
