Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms Forecasted for France Early Next Week
Starting Monday, October 7, France is bracing for a significant weather disruption as widespread showers and thunderstorms are expected across the country. According to La Chaîne Météo, areas such as the Pyrenees, Jura, and Alsace will experience thunderstorms, while the southern regions will be affected by disturbances linked to a Cévennes episode. Despite the impending storms, milder temperatures ranging from 12 to 20°C will be felt from Alsace to Provence, thanks to a southerly wind.
In the morning, the South-West will see threatening weather conditions with thunderstorms, especially in Languedoc. The northern regions will enjoy calmer, albeit cloudy, weather, with clearer skies near the Channel. As the day progresses, the weather will remain generally dry and mild across northern regions, but increasing showers and thunderstorms are expected in the south, particularly in the Massif Central and Centre-East. By evening, caution is advised as rain and potential hail will hit the South-West and spread towards Burgundy. This stormy weather will continue into the night, affecting the Mediterranean regions and moving towards Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Franche-Comté.
On Tuesday, the unsettled conditions persist, particularly in the South and East, with heavy rainfall expected. The situation is anticipated to worsen on Wednesday as Hurricane Kirk, a category 4 storm, approaches French coasts, bringing with it strong gales and further rain until Thursday.
Significant Rainfall Predictions Across France
The weather forecast for Monday and Tuesday indicates that a heavy rain episode will impact much of France. A massive depression off the coast of Ireland is causing warm and humid air to flow into the country, leading to significant precipitation. Morning rains will be scattered in the North-East but will intensify throughout the day, particularly in the Hérault area and the lower Rhone Valley.
Meteorologists predict that some regions could receive extraordinary rainfall amounts, with forecasts suggesting accumulations exceeding 200 mm in the Cévennes, particularly from Aigoual to Ardèche. Other areas, such as the plains of Gard and the Alpes-Maritimes, may see between 100 mm to 130 mm of rain. Overall, accumulations of 40 mm to 80 mm are expected across various regions.
The impending rainfall comes after a very rainy September, leading to saturated soils and increased risks of flooding. The situation is being monitored closely by Keraunos, the tornado and violent storm observatory, as well as Météo France, to ensure public safety amidst these severe weather conditions.
