One death in Pas-de-Calais, flood in Alsace and Nice… Violent storms this Thursday in France

Where the thunderstorms will they fall precisely? For days, the same question. “Impossible or almost impossible to predict”, replied, on -.frWednesday May 22, 2024, meteorologist Guillaume Séchet.

Because, linked to cold drops from altitude, “they are poorly organized and circulate in a very random manner”. This Thursday again, May 23, they swept the country. And were tragic.

Lightning killed one person and seriously injured another when it fell on a football field during training this Thursday evening in Courrières, near Lens (Pas-de-Calais), reports news Pas-de-Calais. The shock of incredible violence caused a cardiorespiratory arrest, which Jordan, 33, father of a young boy, did not survive. Lightning accidents are extremely rare, but can be fatal.

Damage in Alsace

In Alsace, if they did not cause any casualties, they were also impressive this Thursday. In Strasbourg (Bas-Rhin), the circulation of certain lines tram and bus were disruptedreports our local editorial staff, which notably relays impressive images of hail.

Of the roads have been cut and damaged railway installations in the area. Because of landslides, SNCF traffic is thus interrupted between Mommenheim (Bas-Rhin) and Sarreguemines (Moselle), until at least May 29. The A35 North motorway was also closed this Thursday in the Strasbourg-Lauterbourg direction due to rising water on part of the traffic lanes.

Heavy rainfall also fell on the town of Nancy (Meurthe-et-Moselle), causing flooding. A violent storm (also) hit in the Gisors sector (Eure). A section of hill collapsed, requiring the evacuation of a house.

A month of rain in 10 minutes

A very heavy episode of precipitation also hit the Côte d’Azur this Thursday, May 23. Hail fell in the hinterland of Nice (Alpes-Maritimes) as well as in the city center, reports news Nicewhich reports a flood, impressive lightning and again spectacular images.

More than 50 millimeters fell in Pessicart (Alpes-Maritimes), or almost a month of rain in one day, including 21 mm in just 10 minutes…

And it’s not over

In the afternoon and evening, thunderstorms will again locally cause heavy precipitation leading to runoff in a large northeastern part of the country.

Météo France has (again) placed 68 departments on yellow alert for thunderstorms, forecast “in the afternoon and evening”.

And others are already planned for Monday May 27, mainly in Languedoc and the Alps.

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