France is preparing to be hit by the Herminia depression, this Sunday January 26. Météo-France thus places nine departments in the western half on orange alert for winds, floods or rain-floods. and warns of a “strong gale”.
The departments of Finistère, Côtes-d’Armor (Brittany), Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées (New Aquitaine) are affected by the orange wind alert which comes into effect from 8 a.m. and is expected to last at least until midnight, specifies the forecaster.
“Gusts of around 130 km/h on the coasts and close to 100 km/h inland are planned”, indicates the meteorological agency, which mentions a “frontal passage associated with Herminia”. “On the Breton tip, saturated soils constitute an aggravating factor” also notes Météo-France, while significant precipitation caused by the storm Éowyn have already showered the area.
In the two Pyrenean departments, gusts could reach 110 to 120 km/h in medium mountains as well as locally in valleys”. Peaks of more than 150 km/h are possible on “certain exposed ridges or passes”.
The Rhône is also placed on orange alert for strong winds. Gusts could reach 110 km/h, indicates Météo-France, which specifies that the wind will weaken during the day on Monday.
Flood vigilance in three departments
Regarding the risk of flooding, Calvados (Normandy), Mayenne (Loire" rel="tag">Pays de la Loire) and Ille-et-Vilaine (Brittany) are on orange alert for Sunday and at least until Monday.
“We are especially expecting a new, more active disturbance on Sunday, with heavier rains in Brittany. The trend therefore remains upward on Breton and Normandy waterways, as well as on certain waterways in Pays de Loire and Hauts-de-France,” summarized the monitoring organization Vigicrues on Saturday evening.
“Higher floods are expected on rivers placed on orange alertnamely Mayenne in Pays de Loire, Illet, Meu, Vilaine upstream and Seiche in Brittany, Epte, Orne middle and downstream and Dives in Normandy”, he specifies. “Damaging” flood levels could be reached overnight, according to Vigicrues.
-Morbihan on rain-flood alert
Finally, Morbihan (Brittany) is placed on orange rain-flood vigilance until the end of the day, indicates Météo-France, which specifies that due to saturated soils, increased vigilance is necessary. The accumulations could be “40 to 60 millimeters in 24 hours”.
“New rains spread over Brittany during the day, they will temporarily strengthen in the evening, particularly in Morbihanwhere accumulations will become locally significant”, writes the meteorological agency, which indicates that a calm is expected during the night from Sunday to Monday.
Météo-France has downgraded Oise and Seine-Maritime on yellow alert Sunday morning.
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