On March 21, 2025, a fierce storm named Martinho is set to impact large areas of southern France, bringing with it dangerous winds, heavy precipitation, and violent thunderstorms.
Météo France has placed several regions under orange alert as the storm makes its way from Portugal and Spain. Seven departments, including Haute-Garonne, Tarn, Hérault, and Bouches-du-Rhône, are under warnings for winds that could gust between 100 and 140 km/h. In some areas, particularly around Montagne Noire, winds could reach up to 150 km/h, leading to potential damage and disruptions.
Reportedly, as of the morning of March 21, numerous regions prepared for the storm’s arrival with precautionary measures. In Haute-Garonne, winds over 150 km/h were recorded, resulting in property damage including a farm shed in Saint-Ferréol-de-Comminges that lost its roof. Local resident Hélène Garcès expressed her concerns, saying, “It flew off, so we secured it with straps to prevent further damage.” Fortunately, there were no injuries reported thus far.
In Revel, the storm caused trees to sway aggressively, with one nearly toppling onto the road. Sébastien Marty, responsible for the sporting equipment in the city, detailed the situation, indicating, “It blew so hard that the tree was somewhat threatening, it eventually fell… There are quite a few branches down.” Other infrastructures, such as a gas station, lost part of their roofs, and several neighborhoods remain without electricity as utility crews struggle to make repairs amid the ongoing high winds.
The effects of the storm are widespread, with around 1,000 homes still without power across the Haute-Garonne region as of midday March 21. In addition, a funfair scheduled for the weekend in Revel was postponed due to safety concerns over the strong winds. “If those barriers stayed up, they could be dangerous. We were advised it was better to remove all the equipment set up for the fair,” a city official remarked.
Conditions worsened as the storm approached, with local media reporting gusts reaching 50 km/h even prior to the storm’s peak impact. Isabelle Ilja, a resident of Dreuilhe in the Ariège region, noted that electricity has been out for 24 hours and emphasized the challenges for technicians trying to restore services. “It’s difficult to repair with this wind if there are downed lines,” she noted.
The anticipated trajectory of storm Martinho includes continuing eastward, facing impacts in the Île-de-France region and the Mediterranean coast, with similar weather expected for the entire weekend. Météo France warns that the storm's severe conditions are likely to lead to tree falls and infrastructure disruptions.
Adding to the disaster, the storm is expected to bring not only strong winds but also violent storms, intense electrical activity, and heavy showers. Predictions indicate there may be hail and flash floods in regions where the ground is already saturated from recent rainfalls.
The serious weather disturbance prompts warnings for those traveling or residing in affected areas, as conflicts between warm air from Africa and cold air from the Bay of Biscay are conducive to severe thunderstorms forming.
In a mixed bag of weather, locals in typically storm-prone Revel commented on how the intensity of the current winds venturing beyond normal conditions. One resident shared, “We usually handle it in Revel, but this time, it’s much stronger than usual. It feels like a storm.”
Martinho's arrival on March 21 comes with warnings from meteorologists suggesting significant impacts that could lead to property destruction and further challenges for utility crews engaged in repair efforts amidst the roaring winds.
While expectations of heavy rain and storms continue, it is essential for residents and officials to remain cautious and vigilant, clearly aware of the potential dangers posed.
Residents are advised to stay indoors, away from windows, and to avoid unnecessary travel until conditions stabilize. Despite the tumultuous weather, community members express resilience, with clever strategies floating around to defy the storm's severity. “It takes patience and good spirit to cope,” one passerby cheekily advised.
Ultimately, as storm Martinho progresses across southern France this weekend, the collective hope remains for the weather to soon calm, ushering in better conditions in the days ahead.
