« The wind will strengthen from Sunday evening in the Rhône valley, until Monday. Over the northern half of the country, storm Floriane will circulate quickly but intensely during the day on Monday », specifies Météo-Francewhile emphasizing an “uncertainty” regarding its exact trajectory in the northern half.
In the North and Pas-de-Calais, gusts of 70 to 90 km/h are expected, with peaks locally reaching 100 km/h. If Pas-de-Calais seems partly spared from the heart of the storm, the North could, according to forecasts, experience a worsening of weather conditions, justifying a move to orange vigilance.
Disruptions on rail lines
Faced with these weather conditions, the SNCF has decided to take preventive measures in the 21 departments placed on orange alert. These provisions include slowdowns on certain lines, service stops in certain stations, or even “traffic stops” to prevent trains from finding themselves blocked by falling trees or other wind-related incidents.
In Hauts-de-France, several lines will be temporarily stopped. Traffic will be suspended on the Paris-Laon lines (between Crépy and Laon), Tergnier-Laon, Creil-Beauvais, as well as Boulogne-Dunkerque, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday.
Caution and vigilance recommended
As storm Floriane prepares to hit the northern half of the country head-on, Météo-France and local authorities are calling on residents of the affected areas to be vigilant. Non-essential travel is not recommended, and precautions must be taken to secure homes and avoid risky situations.
Residents of the Nord and Pas-de-Calais, accustomed to bad weather, will have to be extra careful in the face of this winter storm which promises to be as fast as it is intense.
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