The first storm of autumn, Storm Austen, is sweeping across the Yvelines (78) this Friday, October 23, 2026. Météo-France has placed the department under an orange wind warning, with gusts expected to reach 90 to 100 km/h. As a result, many towns are closing their parks, gardens, markets and cemeteries for the day as a precaution.
Alert times vary depending on the bulletins shared by local authorities. Andrésy forecasts a peak between noon and 6 p.m., while the City of Rambouillet says the alert will remain in effect until midnight. The safest option is to check the real-time updated alert map.
Here are the closures announced by town halls and the sites concerned, according to information reported by InfosYvelines and the municipalities themselves:
In Versailles, it was the Yvelines prefecture that asked the city to take these measures, as noted on the city hall website. As for the palace, details of the closed areas are listed on the Park page. The Musical Gardens are also exceptionally closing at 12:30 p.m.
This list is not exhaustive. Other municipalities may announce closures during the day, so it’s best to check your local town hall’s website before heading out.
With their extensive wooded areas, the Yvelines are particularly vulnerable to the risk of falling trees. The forests of Rambouillet and Saint-Germain-en-Laye should be avoided all day. In late October, trees still have much of their foliage, giving the wind more to catch, a little like a billowing sail.
The season isn’t helping either. Several municipalities point out that vegetation remains weakened by the drought of summer 2026, increasing the risk of branches snapping.
The prefecture recommends limiting travel, staying off roofs, and putting away or securing anything that could be blown away (garden furniture, bins, parasols). The Town of Andrésy also reminds residents never to touch a power line that has fallen to the ground. In an emergency, call 112 or 18.
As for transport, the day looks set to be difficult: no TER trains are running on the Normandy lines, line N is disrupted, and RER C services are curtailed toward Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. We break down the disruptions line by line in our article on the trains, RER and Transilien services suspended this Friday.
With the Yvelines on Toussaint school holidays, many families are looking for ways to fill the day. It’s best to postpone outdoor outings and opt for museums, exhibitions or movie theaters, checking that they’re open before setting out.
For a region-wide overview, here’s the latest on the parks and cemeteries closed across Île-de-France, as well as the orange alert for strong winds across Île-de-France.
No specific reopening time has been announced yet. Andrésy says it will reopen its green spaces as soon as conditions allow, while Versailles is keeping its parks closed until at least Saturday morning. In most cases, municipal services will first have to inspect the sites to ensure that no trees or branches pose a danger to visitors. Conditions are expected to calm down overnight from Friday to Saturday, as Austen heads toward the Benelux countries.
Dates and Opening Time
On October 23, 2026
Official website
vigilance.meteofrance.fr
