On the night of October 23 to 24, 2025, the storm "Benjamin" hit France: according to Météo-France, gusts reached 168 km/h in Cagnano, 144 in Vidauban, and 119 in Chambéry. A vacationer died in Galéria. Enedis reported up to 140,000 households without electricity, indicating massive power outages. In Corsica, the prefecture announced Corsican ports closed in Bastia and L’Île-Rousse, while rail and air traffic were disrupted.
Storm Tracking: Tight Timeline
At the peak of October 23, gusts exceeded the 160 km/h threshold at Cap Corse. The Météo-France alert turned orange over a large northern half. Then, it tightened in the evening towards Corse-du-Sud and Haute-Corse. In Cagnano (Cap Corse) 168 km/h, in Vidauban (Var) 144 km/h, in Chambéry (Savoie) 119 km/h — Météo-France, October 23, 6 p.m. In the evening, Météo-France still announced gusts up to 170 km/h on Cap Corse — 11:30 p.m., October 23.
The peak of the episode occurred on Thursday, October 23, from morning until evening. It unfolded to the rhythm of special bulletins, the Météo-France alert, and caution messages. The next day, the Météo-France alert (orange) was gradually lifted in most departments, without the weather returning to its mildness: a sky streaked with showers, violent winds still present, and snow in the Alps expected at altitude.
Outages and Restorations, the Battle for Electricity
The wind first struck electricity: 140,000 households were without power around 11:30 a.m., according to France 2’s 8 p.m. news on October 23, reported by Ouest-France. Then 60,000 and 38,000 households were without power in the evening, according to Enedis, the same day. Over the hours, the fragile network was patched up, section by section. By evening, the outage counter hovered around 60,000. Then, by late evening, the number dropped below 38,000. The distribution network manager, Enedis, had activated its national unit. It had mobilized its teams on the ground, bucket truck after bucket truck, chainsaws and detectors in hand. In Puteaux (Hauts-de-Seine), in a crisis unit, they monitored the restorations live at a metronomic pace. Reinforcements were directed in groups, prioritizing hospitals, sensitive sites, and isolated towns.
These numbers, in their apparent dryness, speak of a collective effort. They tell of the on-call duties and the routine of power restorations, the caution in maneuvers, the insulating gloves and still trembling poles, the shadow of forests where a branch is enough to plunge into darkness. They also speak of waiting on doorsteps, when the headlamp becomes a living room lamp. Phones run out of battery before the children fall asleep.
Transport Disruptions on Rail, Road, and Air
Transport disruptions were significant. On TER lines and certain routes, SNCF traffic was heavily disrupted with delays and cancellations. Indeed, fallen trees disrupted the ordinary. Reconnaissance teams took the tracks before travelers, sawing, de-icing, securing, to reopen gradually. In stations, display boards showed the familiar dance of delays and cancellations. Consequently, this led to sighs and gestures of resignation. In airports along the coast, the DGAC reported airport delays and cancellations, a message published on X on October 23 — according to Libération. Crosswinds required diversions and go-arounds. Motorists encountered intervention convoys and slowed down at the sight of flashing lights. Additionally, they learned to navigate roads littered with needles and branches. On the coasts, the swell battered the docks and washed over the dikes.
Storm in Corsica: The Sea Against the Stone
Off the Cap Corse, the wind becomes a character. It arrives in gusts, bounces off the ridges, and rushes into the valleys. On the island, Bastia and L’Île-Rousse kept Corsican ports closed all day on October 24 — Corse-Matin, October 24. On the quays, the moorings creaked while the waves crashed over the piers. Meanwhile, the sailors on stopover watched the sky. The authorities chose prevention: suspend movements, postpone crossings, wait for the anemometers to drop and the sea to calm. The Météo-France alert remained active on Thursday evening in the two island departments. Additionally, gusts at Cap Corse exceeding strong thresholds were expected overnight. According to Météo-France, this phenomenon was observed on October 23, at 11:30 p.m..
It was also on this island that the tragedy of the episode was recorded, Corse-Matin announced it on October 23. In Galéria, on the Fango valley – a sudden river, with round stones and granite pools favored by vacationers – a German tourist was swept away by a flood. The firefighters of Haute-Corse [SIS 2B] intervened, supported by other services mobilized throughout the department. It is impossible here to align words without measuring the sadness of the relatives. The weather, in these cases, is not an explanation: it is only the backdrop of a second too long, a judgment deceived by the beauty of the site.
On the western coast, further towards the Désert des Agriates, the rain lashed the walls and olive trees. In the towns, people inquired, checked on each other, and replaced shutters. Yet, the next day, life resumed its normal course. The bakery reopened, and people stepped over branches. Additionally, they commented on the numbers, the strength of the wind, and the height of the waves. Finally, they also mentioned the white line visible offshore.
Rescue and Instructions: The Discreet Mechanics of Protection
The Civil Security Headquarters and the prefectures repeated the instructions from the Météo-France alert. It is important to stay informed and limit travel. Additionally, avoid edges and waterways. Moreover, do not climb on roofs. Finally, keep generators away. In total, about 1,200 firefighters were mobilized, for more than 600 interventions on October 23. In Normandy, off Ouistreham (Calvados), four fishermen were airlifted the same day, a skillful operation conducted when the waves deepen and visibility blurs. Elsewhere, seven injuries were reported in the country. Most were treated and sent home. Furthermore, hospital teams are accustomed to this kind of autumn storm that does not choose its victims.
In emergency call centers, teleconsultants calmly repeated the same phrases. Thus, they invited patience when the emergency was concentrated elsewhere. Additionally, they promised a visit as soon as possible for a fallen tree, a cracked chimney, or a fenced knocked down. Town halls opened rooms, provided recharges, and relayed messages. The human chain makes no noise; it lends a shoulder and fades away.
Public Words, Residents’ Words
On television sets, Roland Lescure, Minister of Economy, delivered a numerical report of the outages on France 2’s 8 p.m. news on October 23, reported by Ouest-France, and praised the mobilization of field teams. Laurent Nuñez, at the Ministry of the Interior, detailed the activation of crisis units and coordination with the prefectures, statements made on the evening of October 23 and reported by Libération. And in the streets, residents sighed, half-fatalistic, half-philosophical, rediscovering old gestures: storing water, compartmentalizing rooms to keep warm, watching over isolated neighbors.
These small scenes, at human height, give flesh to the story of isobars. Here, an Enedis agent recounts her seventeen-hour shift. Indeed, she works in mud up to her ankles. Additionally, she mentions the gloves that stick. There, a station master explains the precise mechanics of a resumption of traffic. Indeed, this situation occurs after a oak falls on a catenary. Elsewhere, a sailor stranded in Bastia acknowledges the wisdom of a port closure. Indeed, even when schedules and contracts suffer, this decision remains wise. All know that winter is approaching and that these tempered storms are innocent in name only.
Understanding the Episode: A "Tempered Storm" in the Heart of Autumn
In meteorologists’ vocabulary, "Benjamin" is not a poetic find but the designation of a synoptic-scale depression, fueled by a vigorous jet stream over Western Europe. The origin of these violent winds lies in air mass contrasts and the organization of fronts: cold air pushes, mild air resists, and the curvature of isobars accelerates the wind. The Atlantic coast, the Channel, and the northern quarter of the country are particularly exposed to these battering rams. Additionally, in resonance, the Corsican valleys also suffer this exposure. The national bulletins detailed the sequence: active thunderstorms, well-formed squalls, destructive gusts under convective lines, then a gradual, irregular, sometimes deceptive subsidence.
The alert serves here as a common compass. It does not predict street by street, it signals a risk. And on the islands, this risk is compounded by local effects: accelerations due to relief effects, wind channeling between two ridges, sudden direction shifts. Cap Corse is an open-air manual. In Cagnano, Ersa, Macinaggio, each burle has its memory.
After the Storm, the Traces and Lessons
On October 24, over the hours, the lifting of the orange alert marked a gradual return to normal. But a storm does not end with the last gust. Its trace is measured by the brush cutter, insurance claims, the carpenter, frayed forests, and outlined dunes. It is heard in mayors’ meetings demanding preventive pruning along railways. Additionally, they request similar measures for lines and roads. It is also found in familiar discussions where people recount "where they were" at 7 p.m. Indeed, it was the precise moment when the wind changed tone.
The weekend that follows will remain unsettled. Showers will circulate, snow will whiten the Alpine peaks, and we will watch the next wave on the Atlantic. Meteorological services are refining, technical teams are repairing, and residents are tidying up. The sea, meanwhile, is slowly resting, in long breaths of swell.
After the storm, mutual aid and provisional assessment
In these episodes, there is a mix of gestures that say something about us. The firefighters return in the early morning, while the agents are reattaching wires in a cold shower. Additionally, the controllers are rerouting travelers. Furthermore, the sailors give up and others wait. Finally, families are organizing. A storm does not create heroism; it reveals attentions. It reminds us of the fragility of networks and the power of places. It withdraws without apologizing, leaving it to humans to arrange the world.
The assessment, necessarily provisional, is written in numbers and faces. It is also written in instructions: follow official channels and prepare simple kits. Then, avoid reckless curiosity near watercourses. Moreover, giving up an outing when the sea swerves is essential. "Benjamin" will not have broken the season. However, for a day and a night, it will have stirred France. Additionally, it reminded us of what the wind demands: a mix of respect, patience, and solidarity.
After the squall, the traces and the lessons
On October 24, as the hours passed, the lifting of the orange marked a gradual return to normal. But a storm does not end with the last gust. Its trace is measured by the brush cutter, the insurance, the carpenter, the frayed forests, the outlined dunes. It is heard in the meetings of mayors demanding preventive pruning along the railways. Moreover, this also concerns the lines and roads. Furthermore, it is found in familiar discussions recounting "where we were" at 7 p.m. Finally, it was the moment when the wind changed tone.
The weekend that follows will remain unsettled. Showers will circulate, snow will whiten the Alpine peaks, and we will watch the next wave on the Atlantic. Meteorological services are refining, technical teams are repairing, and residents are tidying up. The sea, meanwhile, is slowly resting, in long breaths of swell.
After the storm, mutual aid and provisional assessment
In these episodes, there is a mix of gestures that say something about us. The firefighters return in the early morning. Additionally, the agents are reattaching wires in a cold shower. Furthermore, the controllers are rerouting travelers. Moreover, the sailors give up and others wait. Finally, families are organizing. A storm does not create heroism; it reveals attentions. It reminds us of the fragility of networks and the power of places. It withdraws without apologizing, leaving it to humans to arrange the world.
The assessment of storm Benjamin, necessarily provisional, is written in numbers and faces. It is also translated into instructions. Follow official channels and prepare simple kits. Moreover, avoid reckless curiosity near watercourses. Finally, give up an outing when the sea swerves. "Benjamin" will not have interrupted the season. However, for a day and a night, it will have stirred France. Additionally, it reminded us of what the wind demands: a mix of respect, patience, and solidarity.