Storm Goretti is approaching from the Atlantic and threatens northern France starting Thursday, January 8, 2026. Gusts up to 140 km/h are expected, with orange vigilance for four departments. The Normandy coasts and Opal Coast will be most exposed to strong winds and waves of 5 to 6 meters.
France is shifting to a dynamic oceanic weather pattern on Thursday, January 8, 2026, ending the recent winter episode with widespread thawing. Rains spread in the west from morning, while snow lingers temporarily near the northeast borders before turning to rain. Temperatures rise above 0 °C in the plains, dispelling the recent cold.
In the evening, Storm Goretti, described as a 'meteorological bomb' by La Chaîne Météo, begins affecting Brittany and the Channel coasts. Wind gusts will reach 100 to 130 km/h on average, up to 140 km/h locally on exposed capes, from Brittany to Normandy, via Pays de la Loire, the Paris Basin, and Hauts-de-France. Inland north of the Seine, gusts of 90 to 100 km/h are forecast, potentially causing branch or tree falls and disrupting transport on Friday morning.
Météo France has issued orange vigilance for wind in the departments of Calvados, Eure, Manche, and Seine-Maritime. The maritime prefecture of the Channel and North Sea has warned sea users of strong gusts. The Normandy coasts and Opal Coast will be particularly vulnerable to winds and breaking waves of 5 to 6 meters on the Atlantic and Channel littorals, especially in Brittany and Cotentin. Moderate tide coefficients limit the risk of marine submersion, however.
The storm will peak between Thursday evening and Friday morning before easing. Friday and Saturday will remain unsettled with frequent showers and notable winds, followed by cooling in the north and a risk of snow in the northeast on Saturday.
