top cx logo
cx logo
Explorearrow down
search icon

32 departments in southwest and central France on orange storm alert

Heavy winds, rain and hail are expected to move from Occitanie to Île-de-France over the course of the afternoon. There is also a flood warning for Aude

32 departments in southwest and central France have been placed under an orange storm alert today (September 8). Pic: Météo-France / Gabriela Tulian / Shutterstock

Météo-France has placed 32 departments – from Occitanie to Île-de-France – under an orange storm alert which will continue until at least 6:00 tomorrow (September 9).

There are four levels of weather alert in France: green (no vigilance needed), yellow (be vigilant), orange (be very vigilant) and red (total vigilance).

For these areas, the national weather service predicts a “stormy episode which is not unusual for the current season, but which could become more violent in some areas (with surface runoff, hail and strong winds).”

Read more: Meteo-France will give certified proof of a storm for insurance claims

The storms are set to start at the beginning of this afternoon, moving from the west of Occitanie to Limousin and Centre Val de Loire and bringing heavy rain and winds of 80-100 km/h. 

By the end of the afternoon, it will reach the Paris region, the north of Auvergne and the Midi Toulousain. 

People in the southern areas affected can expect 40-60mm of rain in three or four hours, with 60-80mm predicted for some places.

These storms could cause flooding in cellars and low-lying points, and forest fires could begin if lightning strikes woodland without being accompanied by rain.

During the storm, people are advised to stay away from trees – under which you are 50 times more likely to be struck by lightning – and bodies of water. 

You should also avoid driving round in your car or parking under a tree, although vehicles can be a good shelter from thunderstorms if all the windows are closed and the radio antenna is taken down. 

The most secure place to be during a storm is inside your home or another permanent building, having secured any items that may be exposed to the wind and rain.

The departments concerned are: Allier, Aude, Ariège, Aveyron, Cher, Corrèze, Creuse, Dordogne, Eure-et-Loir, Haute-Garonne, Gers, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, Loiret, Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, Nièvre, Hautes-Pyrénées, Sarthe, Paris, Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Haute-Vienne, Yonne, Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne et Val-d'Oise. 

Aude is also on an amber alert for flooding, with 100-120mm of rain forecast to fall over three hours in the north of the department tonight.

This stormy weather comes after southwestern areas experienced a late burst of summer this week, with temperatures of 36°C recorded yesterday (September 7) in Gironde.

The heat is not expected to last into the second half of the week, with temperatures forecast to sit around 20°C in Occitanie, Centre-Val-de-Loire and Île-de-France today. 

Related stories 

Why a helicopter with giant antenna is flying over south west France

Drought alerts for 38 departments in France despite wet summer

South-west France edges towards 40°C before storms later this week

Resident or second-home owner in France?
Benefit from our daily digest of headlines and how-to's to help you make the most of life in France
By joining the newsletter, you agree to our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
See more popular articles
The Connexion Help Guides
featured helpguide
Income Tax in France 2023 (for 2022 income)*
Featured Help Guide
- Primarily aimed at Britons, covers pensions, rent, ISAs, shares, savings and interest - but also contains significant general information pertinent to readers of other nationalities - Overview of online declarations + step-by-step guide to the French printed forms - Includes updates given automatically after this year's site opened
Get news, views and information from France