Weather Alerts Issued as Severe Thunderstorms Loom Over Southern France
Météo-France has issued orange rain-flood and thunderstorm alerts for several departments in Southern France as severe weather patterns are expected to continue. According to La Chaîne Météo, an anticyclone is present in the Atlantic off the coast of Ireland, bringing in fresh air, while stormy depressions are moving from Spain towards the Mediterranean. These conditions are likely to result in heavy rainfall and potentially severe thunderstorms.
Thunderstorms are expected to be particularly intense in the south-eastern quarter of the country, encompassing departments such as Ardèche, Gard, Vaucluse, Drôme, and Isère. Haute-Loire has also been placed under an orange thunderstorm alert. Météo-France forecasts that these thunderstorms could be accompanied by locally heavy rainfall, hail, and strong winds, particularly in the Pyrenees and surrounding plains.
Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain Expected Across France
On Sunday, the unstable weather pattern observed since the day before will persist. The Landes department, although downgraded from an orange thunderstorm alert, remains on an orange rain-flood alert. Other areas such as Gers, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, and Hautes-Pyrénées have shifted to a yellow alert. Simultaneously, the thunderstorm activity is predicted to increase, particularly affecting regions from Burgundy to the Jura and southern Alsace.
Despite the adverse weather conditions in the South and South-East, the northwest of the country is expected to remain relatively calm and dry. Regions such as PACA and Corsica will experience moderate winds but will largely be spared from the stormy weather. The north of the country will enjoy sunnier skies and cooler temperatures, with highs not exceeding 25 degrees Celsius.
Regional Weather Variations and Temperature Drops
The coastal areas of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA) and Corsica will be affected by moderate tramontane and southerly winds, ranging from 40 to 70 km/h. In contrast, temperatures are expected to significantly drop in the South-West, with a decline of nearly ten degrees compared to the previous day. The maximum temperatures in the south-eastern quarter of the country will hover between 25 to 28 degrees, reaching up to 29 in Southern Corsica.
Minimum temperatures will vary widely across the nation. In the northern half, temperatures will range from 8 to 14 degrees, while in the South, they will lie between 15 to 18 degrees. Coastal Mediterranean regions could see minimums between 18 to 20 degrees.
- The stormy weather patterns observed over Saturday and Sunday are expected to bring additional complications. According to Météo France, the intense rainstorm episodes in departments such as Gers, Hautes-Pyrénées, and Pyrénées-Atlantiques could see cumulative rainfall reaching or exceeding 100 mm.
- The chaotic weather has led to rain mixed with thunder across several regions, moving from the north of Aquitaine and Limousin to Auvergne Rhône-Alpes and further affecting the Gulf of Lion to the Provencal coast. Severe storm activity will particularly impact the Pyrenees and could potentially extend into the plains south of the Garonne, Limousin, and Auvergne north of Rhône-Alpes, as well as Franche-Comté and the south of Alsace.
- Throughout the night, stormy rains are expected to persist, especially in southern Aquitaine and the west of Midi-Pyrénées. Significant rain accumulations may be observed by Sunday morning.
- Meanwhile, the northwest remains largely unaffected by the severe weather, with calmer and drier conditions expected. However, an increase in cloud cover is predicted near the Channel, extending from Brittany to the Belgian border by afternoon. Other parts of the country will experience stronger winds, such as the Autan wind which could reach speeds of up to 60 km/h.
- Minimum temperatures from Brittany to Benelux will be between 7 and 10 degrees, with localized lows of 4 or 5 degrees from Picardy to Lorraine. Elsewhere, temperatures are expected to range between 10 and 16 degrees, with highs potentially reaching 33/35 degrees in Southern Corsica.
