Several departments of Languedoc-Roussillon, including the Pyrénées-Orientales, were preparing to wipe out the first Mediterranean episode of this end of summer 2021 during the night from Wednesday to Thursday. And the stormy phenomenon will continue throughout the day of Thursday. , mainly embracing the department of Aude, the west of the Hérault and part of the Pyrénées-Orientales, in particular the Corbières massif, the Fenouillèdes, the Conflent and the Vallespir.
This disturbance occurs after a period of great good weather with even strong heat and clear skies in recent days.
Météo France forecasters predict very heavy precipitation, up to 200 mm, locally in less than twelve hours. The epicenter of the episode is located in the department of Aude but Roussillon will not be spared even if the department was not classified in orange alert on Wednesday. This threat of heavy rainfall is likely to tense up the inhabitants of Maureillas-las-Illas. This mountain village, near Perthus, suffered a first violent storm last weekend. And it was crossed by a river of mud and rocks that totally submerged the main streets.
The coming phenomenon will be accompanied by a strong south-easterly swell over the entire Catalan coast, de facto prohibiting all marine activities. These rains are expected in a context of very high water deficit, with only 180 mm of precipitation since the start of the year. But no one wanted a violent Mediterranean episode.
