Storm Nils Unleashes Infrastructure Chaos Across the Atlantic Coast

Storm Nils has unleashed a wave of destruction across Western Europe, leaving a trail of fatalities, infrastructure failures, and widespread power outages. As of February 13, 2026, authorities in France and Spain have confirmed at least three deaths directly linked to the storm’s ferocity. The system brought hurricane-force wind gusts exceeding 160 km/h to coastal areas and triggered record-breaking rainfall that has overwhelmed primary transport arteries and utility networks.

In France, the storm proved fatal for a lorry driver in the Landes department when a falling tree crushed his vehicle. A second fatality was confirmed on Friday involving a resident who fell in their garden during the peak of the winds. Beyond the human toll, the French power grid faced an immense challenge as roughly 900,000 households were plunged into darkness. While crews have worked tirelessly to restore service, nearly 450,000 homes remained without electricity by Friday afternoon due to waterlogged fields and blocked roads preventing access for repair teams.

Across the border in Portugal, the most dramatic infrastructure failure occurred on the A1 motorway, the nation’s primary link between Lisbon and Porto. A ten-meter section of the highway near Coimbra collapsed entirely after the Mondego River breached its banks and undermined the embankment. While the road had been closed as a precaution, the collapse has severed a critical economic artery. Infrastructure Minister Miguel Pinto Luz has warned that a full repair will take several weeks, as engineers cannot begin fundamental work until the floodwaters recede.

Spain has faced its own share of the crisis, with a 46-year-old woman in Barcelona tragically killed after a warehouse roof collapsed under extreme wind pressure. In Catalonia alone, nearly 100 people were reported injured as gusts reaching 166 km/h toppled trees and lampposts. The storm also caused significant aviation chaos at Barcelona’s El Prat airport, where hundreds of flights were cancelled or diverted, leaving thousands of passengers stranded. Coastal regions like the Basque Country remained on red alert for waves reaching up to ten meters in height.

This disaster follows a relentless series of storms that have battered the Iberian Peninsula since late December, including Storms Kristin, Leonardo, and Marta. In Portugal, officials noted that the country has received 20% of its annual rainfall in just one week, causing dams to release volumes of water equivalent to a full year of national consumption. The cumulative impact has led to significant political friction, resulting in the recent resignation of the Portuguese Interior Minister following intense criticism over the handling of the emergency response.

Climate scientists emphasize that while winter storms are expected, the sheer frequency and intensity of these events are consistent with patterns predicted by global warming. The warmer atmosphere’s ability to hold more moisture has turned seasonal rain into catastrophic flooding, while shifting pressure systems have increased the likelihood of extreme wind events. As Storm Nils moves eastward, leaving behind billions of euros in damage, the focus shifts to a long recovery and a broader debate on how European infrastructure must adapt to a more volatile climate.