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Storms are set to move eastwards across France today (August 14) after hitting the south-west last night, leaving roads blocked by fallen trees and power cuts.

Storms will begin again today in the early afternoon and stretch from the Pyr茅n茅es up to the Jura, impacting the Massif Central and Alpine foothills, says state forecaster M茅t茅o France.

However, only tier-two yellow warnings are in place for stormy weather, with damage expected to be limited.

Elsewhere, 75 departments face heightened orange-tier heatwave (canicule) warning, but the maximum level red alerts previously affecting departments in the east have been lowered. 

Current predictions see the number of departments facing heightened warnings tomorrow (August 15) rise to 80.

Hailstones and heavy downpours

Stormy conditions last night brought rain across the south-west, after several days of scorching temperatures. Around 30mm of rain fell in less than an hour in some areas.

This, combined with up to 100 km/h winds, saw intense conditions in departments such as Tarn (Occitanie). Hailstones fell in some areas.

A number of roads were temporarily blocked after trees were brought down by the high winds. 

Elsewhere, the storms caused lightning strikes across the country, including in Saint-Etienne. 

Despite a lack of storms in the capital, lightning struck the Eiffel Tower.

Several villages in the Tarn department were without electricity last night after a breakdown of a power station controlled by national grid operator Enedis. However, as of this morning all power is thought to have been restored.