VIOLENT storms with winds of more than 100kph are expected to lash the west of France and the length of the Channel coast at the start of next week, washing out any hope of a white Christmas.
Forecasters at Météo France say Monday and the next few days could see rainstorms gusting up to 120kph over an area from the Vendée to south Brittany and the Channel.
They do not exclude gusts of up to 150kph on Christmas Day, echoing the violent storm that lashed France in 1999 when winds of more than 170kph struck.
Last night winds that had battered Scotland with gusts of up to 176kph were also touching Brittany where winds of 97kph hit Brest and gusts reaching 122kph were recorded at Pointe du Raz.