Torrential Rains and Storms Batter France
Severe Weather Patterns Across Multiple Regions
France has been experiencing severe weather conditions, with torrential rains, thunderstorms, and even a tornado wreaking havoc across various departments. The Météo France has placed six departments in the south-west and center on orange alert for storms, forecasting 'violent phenomena.' The Keraunos storm phenomena observatory recorded 11,500 lightning strikes over the last 24 hours, mainly along a southwest/northeast axis, affecting regions such as Aquitaine, Poitou, Charentes, and Champagne.
Flooding and Record Rainfall
Gironde, already hit by heavy rains, experienced severe flooding, especially in Bordeaux where 50 mm of precipitation fell in just 30 minutes. The situation is equally dire in Mayenne, where an unprecedented 137 mm of rain was recorded in Cossé-le-Vivien within four hours, an amount equivalent to two months of rainfall. This set a new record for the region, which had never seen such an accumulation in such a short time. Similar flooding was observed in Vannes, Morbihan, in southern Brittany.
Tornado and Ongoing Storm Alerts
In the Oise, a small tornado struck the village of Carlepont, causing significant material damage to around thirty houses but fortunately resulting in no injuries. Météo France has maintained an orange thunderstorm alert for six departments in Centre-Val de Loire and Nouvelle-Aquitaine, with more 'sometimes violent' storms expected. These storms could bring heavy hail, intense rain, and gusts exceeding 90 km/h. The weather is expected to remain stormy until Friday, with an improvement anticipated by the weekend.
- A new stormy development is expected on Wednesday afternoon, particularly south of the Loire. The weather is expected to calm north of the river, with a slight fresh wind.
- In the morning, isolated thunderstorms are expected from the southwest to Luxembourg and towards Loire-Atlantique. The lowest temperatures will range from 13 to 17°C, with 22 to 24°C around the Mediterranean.
- By the afternoon, storms will extend from Saint-Nazaire to Burgundy and the Central region, potentially bringing hail. In the south, the weather will be very hot and humid, with stormy depressions breaking out from the Pyrenees to the Massif Central and the Mediterranean hinterlands.
- In the evening, intense storms will break out from the Pyrenees to the northeast, passing through the central regions. The weather will remain calm and very hot in the southeast but cooler in the northwest.
- A significant heat peak is expected on the eastern flank of the country, with temperatures rising to 38°C in Corsica due to a Sirocco storm. Frequent stormy weather is expected to affect France until Friday, with cooler air arriving by the weekend.
