France issues orange alert in 15 departments ahead of Storm Austen

France issued an orange alert on Thursday for 15 departments in the west and north ahead of Storm Austen, with winds forecast to reach 140 kilometres per hour (87 miles per hour), Anadolu Agency reported.

France’s weather agency, “Meteo-France”, warned that a powerful storm was set to hit the Atlantic coast in particular.

Departments under the alert include Loire-Atlantique, Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Somme, Yvelines, Finistere and Val-d’Oise.

Strong winds are expected to move inland during the weekend, affecting the Ile-de-France region, which includes Paris.

The storm is also expected to bring heavy rainfall, particularly in Brittany and Normandy.