Northern France on storm alert, risk of violent winds

[Update September 5 at 16:15 - Hérault and Gard were also placed under an orange weather alert in Météo France's 16:00 update.]

Some 12 departments in northern France have been placed under an orange storm alert this afternoon (September 5).

The departments are: Cher, Loiret, Oise, Aisne and all those in Ile-de-France.

National forecaster Météo France has warned that the storm will begin in Centre-Val de Loire and then climb towards Ile-de-France and Hauts-de-France.

It will bring wind gusts of up to 110km/h, 10-20mm of rain – and up to 40mm in some places – hail and lightning.

The orange warning should come to an end at around 22:00 this evening.

A further 62 departments are under a yellow storm alert.

You can find out more on the Météo France website.

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