The department was placed on red alert due to “stationary thunderstorms” and exceptional volumes of precipitation”.
And the rains were quick to fall on the Hérault.
In Montpellier, the Lez river overflowed, causing a major mobilization of the municipal police.
🔴 Storms & Floods red vigilance alert 🔴
👮♂️👮♀️ Our agents are mobilized around low points to ensure your safety at @montpellier_
Stay extremely careful 👉 https://t.co/ASP9YZTzJb pic.twitter.com /a7p0jaisPB
– Montpellier Municipal Police (@PMMontpellier) September 6, 2022
According to Midi Libre, 250 staff are mobilized, including 10 units of 4 aquatic rescuers as well as 10 flood protection groups (machines).
Three Civil Security Dragon helicopters are also requested, details the Hérault prefecture.
The #Lez gets out of bed!
🥺#weather #Montpellier pic.twitter.com/qBDsnwsusa
— Isabelle Vermorel ✨🇺🇦✨ (@IsaVermorel) September 6, 2022
Already 150 mm of rain would have fallen, says Midi Libre.
Lightning would also have fallen near a nursery in Prés-d'Arènes, a district of Montpellier.
The children would have been left in the dark for a while.
No victims would be for the moment to deplore.
In the hinterland of Montpellier, the rains already seem intense.
#alertrouge thunderstorms in the Hérault.
The impressive video of a street in flood in Saint gely du Fesc pic.twitter.com/0vKWKLoHjD
– Midi Libre (@Midilibre) September 6, 2022
Météo France on Tuesday placed Gard and Hérault on red vigilance, the highest level of alert, due to "stationary thunderstorms" and exceptional volumes of precipitation, while 25 departments in the Center-East and North- East remain on orange alert for thunderstorms Tuesday evening.
In the early evening, red vigilance was lifted, the department remaining in orange.
In the two southern departments, “the stationary thunderstorms are well established” and “the exceptional intensity of the precipitation observed requires a passage in red vigilance”, announces the meteorological service.
"There are currently values of more than 150 mm in the south-east of Hérault and the Sommières region", specifies Météo France in its 4:15 p.m. bulletin.
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“Currently the episode concerns the Montpellier region.
In the hours to come, an additional 100 mm may fall, bringing the total rainfall over the episode to maximum values between 200 mm and 250 mm, ”adds the national weather service.
The end of this episode of stationary thunderstorms, "the first of the season" notes Météo France, "is expected around 10 p.m.".
“Other accumulations of rain may be added, but the worst should therefore be over.
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