Travellers were warned not to go to either of Paris’ main airports. Winds of up to 140km/h (87mph) have hit northern and western France, disrupting power supplies and transport routes.
Both main airports serving Paris -Charles de Gaulle and Orly – are closed for the first time in 34 years.
Air France said it had cancelled 210 flights, and has booked more than 2,000 hotel rooms for stranded passengers.
The airports are not due to reopen until 1000 (0900GMT). Some 3,000 households are without electricity in western areas.
Services between Brittany and nearby islands have been suspended, operators Oceane and Penn Ar Bedd said.
Brittany Ferries also postponed the inaugural sailing on Tuesday of its service from Roscoff to Plymouth, in southern England.
The French navy has put three rescue vessels on stand-by to help any shipping in difficulty. Sand bags have been deployed on seafronts exposed to possible flooding.
