Major hailstorm pelts Paris as severe storms sweep France
A significant storm brought the French capital to a halt on Saturday afternoon
Several days of unseasonable heat across portions of Europe broke in spectacular fashion this weekend as a line of severe thunderstorms swept across northern France.
A major hailstorm rolled through the heart of Paris on Saturday afternoon, forcing residents and tourists alike to flee the dramatic thunderstorm.
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Much of Europe has endured above-seasonal temperatures for the past few days as a strong ridge of high pressure settled over the region.
The United Kingdom likely experienced its warmest-ever start to May. Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport recorded a high of nearly 29°C on Thursday and 27°C on Friday, which was more than 5°C above seasonal for this time of year, according to Météo-France.
A cold front slid across the English Channel to start the weekend, sending temperatures plummeting in short order as it pushed over northern France.
The lift of the cold front, combined with the instability of the warm air, gave rise to severe thunderstorms throughout the region—one of which made a direct hit on Paris around 4:00 p.m. local time Saturday.
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Numerous photos and videos showed a chaotic scene as drenching rains, gusty winds, and prolific hail shredded trees and pelted pedestrians as they ran for safety.
Severe thunderstorms are common across Europe during the spring and summer months. Some parts of the continent are particularly susceptible to supercell thunderstorms capable of producing destructive tornadoes and very large hailstones. Back in 2023, a town in northeastern Italy recorded a 19 cm hailstone.
See some of the visuals from Saturday's storm in Paris, below.