Seven departments in the center-east were placed on orange alert for “strong wind” this Monday, November 25. The SNCF has announced the interruption of numerous train lines. The A47 was cut following an accident. In Lyon and Saint-Etienne, parks and public gardens remained closed for “security reasons”. A shopping center was evacuated as a precaution.
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According to the Météo France bulletin published at 4:00 p.m. this Monday, the gusts reached 120-130 km/h, in Lyonnais and particularly in the Gier valley. In the Loire, gusts of 143 km/h were recorded in Saint-Chamond. The previous record dates from December 20, 2019, with gusts of 150 km/h according to Météo France.
Météo France sensors in Lyon-Saint-Exupéry recorded a peak at 126 km/h during the day. The “Bert” depression has therefore arrived in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, with its consequences.
At the Météo France station in Lyon-Bron, we record the peaks of the gusts.
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© Yaëlle Marie, France 3 Rhône Alpes
According to Patrice Coston, forecaster at Météo France, this windy episode was not exceptional but “outstanding”with rare values, which we find every 10 or 50 years, without breaking any records. “The local particularity is the phenomenon of engulfment. The south wind surges from the Pilat massif and rushes into the valleys.”
Rhône firefighters carried out more than 70 interventions following the triggering of orange vigilance last evening. “Mainly reconnaissance, security or evacuation operations”according to the Rhône general staff. The area around OL Vallée has been cordoned off, a supermarket east of Lyon has been evacuated “for security reasons”. The A47 between Lyon and Saint-Etienne was cut following a truck accident near Ternay, in the Rhône. A motorist who was driving in the opposite direction was able to film the scene. We can see the truck partly overturned on the road.
Agents from the Lyon metropolitan area have intervened a hundred times to install barriers following falling trees or threatening roofs. In the 1ᵉʳ arrondissement, a scaffolding was in danger of coming loose, rue du Bon Pasteur was closed to traffic. The recycling centers have all been closed “taking into account the problems caused by violent winds in the area, particularly the flying of materials which put users in danger”specified the metropolis in a press release.
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The banks of the Rhône in Lyon are agitated.
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©Yaëlle Marie, France 3 Rhône Alpes
The wind made cycling complicated. An elected official from the metropolis filmed a sequence on the Raymond Barre bridge this Monday morning. We see several dismounting, pedestrians trying to move forward despite the gusts.
The SNCF announced the interruption of train traffic on several regional lines such as Lyon – Saint-Etienne, the most important TER line in France. On its website and on social networks, the SNCF explained this “stop” pour “all day” due to “climatic conditions” and advises travelers “to postpone their trip“.
Lyon public transport has also suffered disruptions. “Following violent winds, trees falling on overhead lines are impacting operations”several tram lines were stopped. The TCL specified in the middle of the afternoon that relay buses had been set up. Traffic was expected to resume around 8:00 p.m.
For her part, the regional prefect called for caution and to “limit travel”.
The prefecture indicated that trucks were not authorized to “carry out overtaking maneuvers on national roads and motorways until the orange alert is lifted”.
The city of Saint-Etienne has issued an order closing its parks and gardens for the entire day on Monday, “for the sake of security”. The city clarified that “during the alert, a security perimeter will be installed around the large Christmas tree, Place Jean Jaurès”.
In Lyon, the Christmas market held at Place Carnot was closed on Sunday afternoon and remained closed on Monday. In Parilly Park, around ten trees were uprooted.
Almost everywhere in city centers, tree branches, signs, trash cans and pieces of roofing toppled or fell. Some construction sites were at a standstill due to the “in weather vane” cranes.
According to Météo France, orange vigilance was lifted at 6:00 p.m. The wind calmed down in the region late in the afternoon. A rainy spell was forecast in the evening.
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