Orange alert for storms in northwest and central France

Orange alerts have been issued for storms in 14 departments in northwest and central France this morning. 

The orange rating means that residents in the departments should be “very careful”.

Forecasts predict storms and strong winds. 

The departments on alert for storms are: Allier, Cantal, Corrèze, Côtes d'Armor, Côte-d'Or, Creuse, Finistère, Loire, Manche, Morbihan, Nièvre, Puy-de-Dôme, Saône-et-Loire and Yonne.

In Oise and Aisne (Hauts-de-France) orange alerts for floods have been issued. 

In Brittany, storms are forecast this morning. “During the afternoon, a second wave of storms will develop in west Brittany. This will move to the north throughout the afternoon, reaching the channel by the evening,” Météo France forecasts.

Lightning, hail and winds of up to 90kph are expected. Rainfall could reach 50 litres per m2 – equivalent to the total rainfall normally expected in one month.  

Storms are also forecast in central France this evening, in an area stretching from Limousin in the west to Bourgogne in the east. 

Météo France said: “The storms will be especially violent with a lot of lightning, large hailstones and strong gusts of wind reaching 80-100kph”.

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