Flood alert for rivers in SW France after heavy rains

Recent wet weather in South West France has prompted Météo-France to maintain orange flood alerts in two departments along the Atlantic coast.

The Gironde and the Landes are on the national forecaster's second highest meteorological alert level, with rivers high after more than a week of heavy rain.

The Adour and the Midouze have already flooded along certain stretches, while overflows are expected at the confluence of the Garonne and the Dordogne, Météo-France said, because of particularly high tides along the Atlantic coast. The area between Bordeaux and Libourne are notably affected by the warning.

Floods around Dax were still rising early on Monday, December 14, France's floods monitor Vigicrues said, with waters expected to peak by the end of Monday. Meanwhile, overflows were slowing receding along upstream Midouze, but were still rising around flood-hit Tartas.

In South Western France, where the ground is saturated following a more than a week of sustained rainfall, numerous rivers are close to bursting their banks, experts said.