Much of northwestern Europe went on high alert Wednesday as a storm dubbed Ciaran threatened to bring gale force winds and extreme rainfall to the region. Three French departments -- Finistere, Cotes-d'Armor and Manche -- will be placed on red storm alert, the highest level, at midnight (2300 GMT), national weather agency Meteo-France said. Meanwhile thirty other departments including Paris and its surrounding regions are placed on orange alert.
