Tornado damage in Pomas, France

On August 24, 2026, a violent EF3 tornado struck the village of Pomas in the Aude department of southern France. Météo-France described the event as a “devastating tornado,” while the Keraunos observatory confirmed the EF3 intensity based on the scale of damage observed on the ground, which included debris such as wooden beams embedded in walls.

The storm caused widespread destruction, including damaged or destroyed homes, uprooted trees, and overturned vehicles. Emergency response efforts involved over 120 firefighters from Aude and specialized Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) units from Pompiers13. Despite the intensity of the storm, no fatalities were reported.

Following the disaster, local authorities addressed the impact on education. Due to heavy damage to the local school, Carcassonne Agglo arranged to relocate 90 students to the Bastide de Madame leisure center in Couffoulens for the start of the school year on September 1, 2026. This temporary arrangement includes bus transportation and extended supervision to support children, some of whom lost their homes in the storm.