Floods and inundations: five departments placed on orange alert, heavy rains expected ?

Five departments in the south of France are on orange alert for rain-floods and/or floods, this Saturday October 26 in the morning.

A week after violent storms that swept across France, a new episode of rain is settling in the country this weekend of October 26 and 27. On Saturday morning, five departments were placed on orange alert for various reasons: rain, flooding and rising waters. In detail, Máteáo-France has put the Alpes-Maritimes (rain-flood, floods), the Gard (rain-flood), the Var (rain-flood, floods) and the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (floods) in orange. Hérault joined the list on Saturday morning. 

The peak of rains expected this Saturday evening

“Another “much more intense episode” will affect the south-east of France and Corsica from Saturday to Sunday, warns La Chaîne Météo, which adds: “Saturday, and particularly the evening, seems to be the period most intense” risk”, with storms that will follow one another all day long. "A "episode of heavy rain, sometimes stormy, affects the south-east of the country, more particularly the Gard and the south-east, with an intensification expected on Saturday in the Var and Alpes-Maritimes", éwrites Météo-France.

"Locally, accumulations of more than 40mm have been recorded, and more generally 10 to 30mm, with intensities ranging from 5 to 20 mm/h”, details the organism on Saturday morning. 

“The critical period is between this evening and the night of Saturday to Sunday in PACA and in eastern Corsica. A fairly general lull should be felt from Sunday morning, but the episode will not be completely over. Indeed, new storms are expected Sunday evening in these same areas, according to the Weather Channel.

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Significant flood risks

With rains that have already been significant and are expected to last all weekend, the risk of flooding is real. “The storms are gaining intensity again on the Côte d'Azur, especially this afternoon and this evening, coming up from the sea. The storms are happening one after the other all day long. Stationary but very localized storms are breaking out in eastern Corsica. In this context, watercourses can experience strong reactions (watersheds of the Var and Argens for example). The risk of flooding is significant”, details the Météo Chain

“Flash floods are to be feared” particularly in the Var where certain rivers have already swollen considerably, such as the Argens river which rose from 1.62 metres on Thursday evening to 8.04 metres on Friday morning according to the levels reported by BFMTV. “Watercourses may experience significant rises, but more spread out over time and lower than last week,” warns La Chaîne Météo in a more temperate manner. In addition to the heavy rains, the soils already saturated with water that increases the risk of flooding.

Latest updates

11:35 – The vigilance could extend to other departments

According to Météo France, Lozère and Ardèche could join the list of departments placed on orange alert. Showers are affecting the Cévennes region and the east of the department until Saturday evening.

10:43 – A short lull on Sunday ?

The storms and rain should gradually decrease tomorrow. “A fairly general lull should be felt from Sunday morning, but the episode will not be completely over. In fact, new storms are expected Sunday evening”, estimates La Chaine Météo.

10:11 – Risky day this Saturday

“This Saturday is the most ” risk of this episode, in the PACA region and eastern Corsica”, according to La Chaine Météo. On the Côte d'Azur, storms intensify at the end of the day. “The risk of flooding is significant”, warns the organization. In the Cévennes, the rainy episode also continues, but it should be less violent than in the PACA region. “Significant rises, but more spread out over time and lower than last week”, estimates the weather report. 

09:43 – Five departments on orange alert for flooding and/or rain-flooding

H'rault joins the list of departments placed on orange alert by Mét&eacuteo France. The day before, four other departments had gone orange: the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence for floods, as well as the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes for rain-flooding.