Tornado Injures 41, Damages Hundreds of Homes in Southwestern France

A powerful tornado struck southwestern France on Monday, August 24, 2026, injuring at least 41 people and causing extensive damage to hundreds of homes, primarily in the village of Pomas in the Aude department. The severe weather event, which occurred in the late afternoon, was part of a broader outbreak of storms that disrupted transportation and left thousands without power across the region. The tornado was observed at approximately 5 p.m. near Pomas, a village of about 1,000 residents south of Carcassonne, as a supercell thunderstorm moved through the area. Local authorities reported that the storm ripped roofs from buildings and scattered debris through the streets.