This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7879664.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 13 | Version 14 |
|---|---|
| High winds hit north-west France | High winds hit north-west France |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Winds of up to 140km/h (87mph) have hit northern and western France, disrupting power supplies and transport routes. | Winds of up to 140km/h (87mph) have hit northern and western France, disrupting power supplies and transport routes. |
| Electricity to some 600,000 households across the north of the country has been cut by power-line damage. | Electricity to some 600,000 households across the north of the country has been cut by power-line damage. |
| Both main airports serving Paris -Charles de Gaulle and Orly - were closed for the first time in 34 years. | Both main airports serving Paris -Charles de Gaulle and Orly - were closed for the first time in 34 years. |
| They were reopened after 12 hours, but Air France said it had cancelled 210 flights, and booked more than 2,000 hotel rooms for stranded passengers. | They were reopened after 12 hours, but Air France said it had cancelled 210 flights, and booked more than 2,000 hotel rooms for stranded passengers. |
| Ferry services between Brittany, in the far north-west, and nearby islands have been suspended, operators Oceane and Penn Ar Bedd said. | Ferry services between Brittany, in the far north-west, and nearby islands have been suspended, operators Oceane and Penn Ar Bedd said. |
| Brittany Ferries also postponed the inaugural sailing on Tuesday of its service from Roscoff to Plymouth, in southern England. | Brittany Ferries also postponed the inaugural sailing on Tuesday of its service from Roscoff to Plymouth, in southern England. |
| The French navy has put three rescue vessels on stand-by to help any shipping in difficulty. Sand bags have been deployed on seafronts exposed to possible flooding. | The French navy has put three rescue vessels on stand-by to help any shipping in difficulty. Sand bags have been deployed on seafronts exposed to possible flooding. |
| The north-east of France was put on "orange alert" as the storm system moved east on Tuesday morning, while the warning was lifted in Brittany. | The north-east of France was put on "orange alert" as the storm system moved east on Tuesday morning, while the warning was lifted in Brittany. |
| Heavy rain was forecast further south, with Gironde on the Atlantic coast warned of possible flooding. | Heavy rain was forecast further south, with Gironde on the Atlantic coast warned of possible flooding. |
| Flood alert | Flood alert |
| In Paris, travellers were asked not to head to the city's airports, which closed at 2000 (1900GMT) on Monday. | In Paris, travellers were asked not to head to the city's airports, which closed at 2000 (1900GMT) on Monday. |
| Flights had been disrupted for two hours before the closures. Charles de Gaulle is one the busiest airports in Europe. | Flights had been disrupted for two hours before the closures. Charles de Gaulle is one the busiest airports in Europe. |
| Forecasters predicted, however, that the storm would not be as bad as the one that lashed France and Spain on 24 January, leaving 11 dead and causing widespread damage. | Forecasters predicted, however, that the storm would not be as bad as the one that lashed France and Spain on 24 January, leaving 11 dead and causing widespread damage. |
| The storm is also battering southern England, where heavy rain has left many councils on "full alert" in preparation for floods. | The storm is also battering southern England, where heavy rain has left many councils on "full alert" in preparation for floods. |
| In Somerset, in the south-west, 20 people stranded in flood water were rescued from their cars. | In Somerset, in the south-west, 20 people stranded in flood water were rescued from their cars. |
| The UK saw the heaviest snowfall for 18 years last week and forecasters warn more snow is on the way over parts of Wales and the Midlands. | The UK saw the heaviest snowfall for 18 years last week and forecasters warn more snow is on the way over parts of Wales and the Midlands. |