While the departments of Var and Alpes-Maritimes were already placed on orange alert for storms from 6 p.m., on Wednesday, September 4, Météo-France extended the orange alert for storms and rain-flooding to ten new departments in the south and center of France, in its latest 4 p.m. bulletin. These are Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, Gard, Haute-Loire, Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, Allier, Saône-et-Loire, Nièvre, and Yonne.
The southern departments (Alpes-Maritimes, Var, Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse and Gard) are affected by the double vigilance, while Auvergne and Burgundy are affected by the orange rain-flood alert.
“The first storms hit the south of France, 50-70 millimeters fell in a short time in the Marseille region”the meteorological organization specifies in its latest bulletin. “From Haute-Loire to Yonne, an unstable rain axis will set in during the evening. The rains will persist until Thursday morning.”adds Météo-France. The cumulative rainfall could reach ” from 50 to 70 millimeters and locally 100 millimeters, along this axis”.
According to Météo-France, “on the Mediterranean regions, [il y aura un] episode of locally intense rains requiring particular vigilance”. The organization also warns against “episodes of heavy precipitation” in Auvergne and Burgundy. The stormy rains will be concentrated on Wednesday evening and during the night in the departments from Gard to Alpes-Maritimes. “They will sometimes be intense [et] accompanied by strong gusts of wind and hail”it is emphasized.
