While the departments of Var and Alpes-Maritimes were placed on orange alert this Wednesday, September 4, 10 other departments were placed on alert by Météo France in its 4 p.m. bulletin.
In its 4 p.m. news bulletin, France Weather places 12 departments on orange alert for the evening of Wednesday, September 4 and the day of Thursday, September 5.
The Gard in orange
In Occitanie, Gard is the only department concerned. In the PACA region, Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, and Alpes-Maritimes are also placed on orange alert for rain-flooding and storms. Finally, these rains will extend to the Rhône Valley and the south of the Massif Central since Loire, Haute-Loire, Puy de Dôme, Allier, Saône-et-Loire, Nièvre and Yonne are also classified as orange for the evening and this Thursday, September 5.
According to The Weather Channelthe most critical period will last from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. with high risks of flooding. During the night, the cities of Marseille and Nice will experience the highest risks of flooding. The next morning, a gradual calm is expected but thunderstorms are still possible. It is only during the afternoon that the last thunderstorms will head out of France.
Up to 200mm of rain could fall in the PACA region, the equivalent of a month and a half of precipitation. According to La Chaîne Météo, there is a risk of hail in Provence and on the Côte d’Azur, as well as in Corsica. It will be necessary to be vigilant in these departments due to the risks of runoff, flooding, and falling trees.