A powerful supercell storm system swept through parts of France, Italy, and Switzerland, bringing destructive winds of up to 90 mph and hailstones described as golf-ball sized. The severe weather has left a trail of destruction, smashing windows, damaging vehicles, and causing significant disruption.
In France, the Seine-et-Marne region east of Paris experienced intense winds that reportedly sent people flying and caused widespread damage. Videos circulating online show trees bent at sharp angles and heavy rain falling horizontally. One incident captured on a train in Paris showed a locomotive window caving in under the force of the storm, leading to panicked passengers scrambling for safety as water and hail entered the carriage. Drivers on the A36 near Besançon reported their car windshields shattering due to the impact of large hailstones, with traffic grinding to a halt amid the chaos. Branches were seen breaking off trees and falling onto vehicles.
Switzerland was also hit by the storm, with hailstones reportedly the size of golf balls battering homes in the northern parts of the country. Footage from inside a home showed outdoor furniture being destroyed by the intense hail.
In northern Italy, military forecasters issued warnings for severe rainfall, particularly in the Piedmont and Lombardy regions. These areas were expected to experience heavy downpours accompanied by frequent lightning strikes and strong gusts of wind.
The extreme weather follows a prolonged period of heatwaves across Europe, which have already caused significant economic damage and loss of life. Earlier in the month, an economist noted that the summer's heatwaves demonstrated climate change as a tangible economic risk, estimating that heat-related issues could cost 1% of GDP this year. The heatwaves are also believed to have contributed to tens of thousands of deaths across the continent, with Germany and France registering a high number of heat-related fatalities.