Météo France warned on Friday that the weather over the weekend was going to be “rough”.
Ardèche, Var and the Alpes-Maritimes have been placed on orange rain-flood alert for this Saturday and Sunday.
The Var is also on flood alert, as is Charente-Maritime, which has been on alert for several days.
The Loire and Haute-Loire are on wind orange vigilance.
🔶 6 departments in Orange (https://t.co/CSYEovTI83) pic.twitter.com/dU3E9VQRjx
— VigiMétéoFrance (@VigiMeteoFrance) March 9, 2024
“Significant rainfall accumulations”
A “significant rainy episode” is underway in the south-eastern quarter, “which follows a series of episodes which have saturated the soil in recent weeks”, explains Météo France.
The total amount of rain expected this Saturday will be between 150 and 250 mm in the Ardèche Cévennes.
“In the east of the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes, the accumulations will be between 100 and 120 mm, locally 150 mm.
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In certain areas, such as the Alpes-Maritimes, these accumulations over a few hours can represent the equivalent of more than a month of precipitation.
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On the flood side, in the Var, “a Mediterranean episode is expected” and will “result in significant accumulations of rain”, particularly at the end of the afternoon and evening this Saturday.
For Charente-Maritime, if “the decline begins”, “significant and damaging overflows are observed”, warns Vigicrues.
The two orange vigilances are maintained for Sunday.
The rains could last more than 24 hours, but should then evacuate towards Italy, marking the end of the episode.
A large part of France on yellow alert
At the same time, the Loire and Haute-Loire have been placed on wind orange vigilance, only for this Saturday.
Gusts could reach 90 to 110 km/h “or even locally 120 to 130 km/h, particularly on the Pilat Massif”, warns Météo France.
The phenomenon should calm down in the evening in the Haute-Loire and in the middle of the night in the Loire.
A large part of France has also been placed on yellow alert, particularly for floods.
The southwest quarter is on yellow thunderstorm alert and part of the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts are on alert for wave-submersion.