Météo France orange alert for heavy rainstorms

The downpour is expected to start around midday today (Sunday May 10) and is so far predicted to last until 6h tomorrow.

The southwest region is expected to see “an exceptional weather event” with “sustained rain” over a “spread out” area, said Météo France.

The forecaster added that “the quantities [of rain] expected in 24-48 hours could be close to the century records”, with as much as 100-160mm predicted in some areas of the southwest.

In the centre, there will be a “rainstorm requiring particular vigilance, due to its intensity and duration”; while in Ile-de-France, there will be “frequent thunder that could bring local hail, many thunderclaps, and again, high rainfall”.

Temperatures are expected to drop sharply on Monday.

Météo France said: “Things will improve on Monday afternoon.”

Full list of departments on alert at the time of writing:

Paris and surrounding areas (75-92-93-94), Seine-et-Marne (77), Yvelines (78), Essonne (91), Val-d'Oise (95), Charente-Maritime (17), Gers (32), Gironde (33), Indre-et-Loire (37), Landes (40), Loir-et-Cher (41), Loiret (45), Lot-et-Garonne (47), Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64) and Hautes-Pyrénées (65).