Tens of thousands of homes have been left without electricity.
The storm hit Paris without warning and lasted only a few minutes, but caused havoc there and across the north.
The storm caused delays at airports in Paris and brought some train services to a halt. The Eiffel Tower, parks and other outdoor facilities were closed.
The gusts of up to 130 km/h (80 mph) prompted the French national weather service, Meteo France, to issue its second-highest alert and warning against people using their cars, says the AFP news agency.