At least two people were killed in the Alps -- a man who drowned when his small boat capsized on a lake and a 37-year-old motorcyclist who was struck by a falling tree -- and some railway lines disrupted for several hours, officials said.

More than ten boats were lost and property worth thousands of euros (dollars) was damaged when strong winds of more than 140 kilometres (85 miles) per hour lashed the seaside resort of La Grand-Motte in the Mediterranean region of Herault.

Tens of thousands of households were left without electricity in the Rhone-Alpes region after falling trees cut power lines, state power company EDF said.

Forecasters said they expected the bad weather to abate late on Monday.

The storms come on the heels of a two-week heatwave that receded last week after causing up to 5,000 deaths, mostly of old people unable to cope with temperatures of 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

burs/shs/gk

TERRA.WIRE