Coastal areas on high alert as winds and storms lash northern France
Campers have been warned about falling trees and swimmers told to stay out of the sea on the Atlantic coastline
Stormy weather and strong waves are set to hit the Brittany and Normandy coasts Wednesday afternoon (August 2)
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The calendar says August but in northern France you would be forgiven for thinking autumn has already arrived.
Forecaster Météo France has placed the country’s top half on a tier-two yellow alert for strong winds, with gusts of up to 100 km/h expected. Storms and heavy rain are forecast for parts of the north and north-east.
Warnings of this level mean residents should be cautious when going outside, and keep up to date with local weather reports.
Meanwhile, the coastlines of four departments in Brittany and Normandy have been placed under a tier-three orange warning - the second highest level - for strong waves and high tides from 16:00 on Wednesday (August 2).
They are:
- Manche
- Ille-et-Vilaine
- Côtes d'Armor
- Finistère
Warnings of this level mean people in the affected areas should be "very vigilant" as "dangerous phenomena" are expected.
Météo France said winds of between 90 to 100 km/h are expected. It noted that “huge waves can be created several times a year when the tide is strong,” but added that it is “unusual for the season”. The forecaster has warned waves could come crashing over sea walls and flood low-lying or coastal areas.
Weather channel La Chaine Méteo highlighted the risks this unusual weather posed for holidaymakers, especially campers, due to falling trees and tree branches.
La Chaine Méteo is also recommending people along the Atlantic coast - down as far as the Spanish border - avoid going into the sea due to the strong waves.
In addition, a large swathe of France - covering 58 departments and stretching from the north-east to the south-west - is on a tier-two yellow warning for storms on Thursday (August 3).
Better weather next week?
The weather, unusual for the beginning of August, is due to several meteorological phenomena, including depressions that block anticyclones from the south. Cold and humid air from the British Isles adds to this lower temperature and rainier conditions.
In its forecast for August 7 to 13, Météo France said: “In the northern half [of France], the start of the week still looks disrupted, before a gradual drying out of conditions.
Temperatures will be a bit low for the season, but will then gradually approach the seasonal norms in the second part of the week.”
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