In Pictures

Violent storms batter France and Spain

Stormy conditions bring electricity supply lines in southwest France and cause damage in parts of Spain.

Waves approaching the Sao Miguel Arcanjo fort in Nazare, central Portugal. — Storm-driven waves approaching the Sao Miguel Arcanjo fort in Nazare, central Portugal. [Francisco Leong/AFP]

A series of progressively violent storms has finally broken out of the Atlantic, leaving hundreds of thousands without power in parts of France and causing damage in Spain.

Intense circulations, prompted by the jetstream high in the atmosphere, have whipped up the waves, battering the coasts of Portugal, northern Spain and France.

Meteo France on Saturday reported wind speeds of up to 148 kilometres an hour on the coast and warned that in some places they could reach 160km/h.

Even in the Mediterranean island of Corsica, across the northern cape, gusts were registered at 155km/h on Saturday night.

The stormy conditions brought down electricity supply lines in southwest France, leaving more than 250,000 homes without power.

Before dawn on Sunday, the wind increased again in Asturias, northwest Spain, with gusts of 143km/h. Santander, further along the coast, also felt the storm coming with winds up to 104km/h.

Big waves break at the Magdalena peninsula in Santander, northern Spain.Some places have registered winds of up to 131kmh — Big waves break at the Magdalena peninsula in Santander, northern Spain. Some places have registered winds of up to 131km/h. [Pedro Puente Hoyos EPA]

Wind damage to Lycee de la Mer et du Littoral in Bourcefranc-le-Chapus. Gale force winds battered France''s southwestern Atlantic coast on February 4, leaving more than 250,000 homes without power, — Wind damage to Lycee de la Mer et du Littoral in Bourcefranc-le-Chapus. [Xavier Leoty/AFP]

A big wave hits the Paseo Nuevo promenade in San Sebastian, Basque Country, northern Spain — A big wave hits the Paseo Nuevo promenade in San Sebastian, northern Spain. [Javier Etxezarreta/EPA]

Roof damage to the Balaidos stadium in Vigo, Spain — Roof damage to the Balaidos stadium, in Vigo, caused the postponement of the Celta v Real Madrid football match in Spain. [Miguel Riopa/AFP]

Flashes of lightning strike above the ''Baie des Anges'' on February 3, 2017, in Nice, southeastern France — Flashes of lightning on Friday strike above the "Baie des Anges" in Nice, southeastern France [Valery Hache/AFP]

Scaffolding brought down by strong winds in Bordeaux, southwestern France. [Georges Gobet/AFP]

Technicians work on an electric line on February 5, 2017 brought down near Saint-Estephe, southwestern France as high winds damaged infrastructure — Technicians on Sunday work on an electric line brought down near Saint-Estephe, southwestern France, as high winds damaged infrastructure. [Georges Gobet/AFP]