France hit by storms: record rainfall, hail, and 17,000 lightning strikes

Storms are set to continue in south-east France today after sweeping across the south-west, centre and east in recent days.

Stormy conditions are expected today from the Pyrénées to the German border, with the most severe weather now concentrated in the south-east.

Strong winds of up to 90 km/h and hail are forecast with up to 40mm of rain falling within an hour at the peak of the storm and 80mm falling overall.

State forecaster Météo France has placed the Bouches-du-Rhône and Var departments on heightened alert for both storms and heavy rain/flash flooding between 06:00 and 12:00.

Alerts may be extended or increased to other areas depending on the intensity and progression of the storms.

Keeping informed of developments through local media and the state forecaster’s website is advised.

Record rain, 4cm hail

Yesterday’s storms saw damage across France, with hailstones of up to 4cm in diameter falling in the east, particularly in the Saône-et-Loire department

Several trees have been brought down. A 47-year old woman died in Dijon after being hit by a falling tree branch in Nièvre during Tuesday’s storms. 

Record rainfall of 109 mm in Vichy (Allier) and 118 mm in Charmes (Vosges) were recorded yesterday, the equivalent of around two months of summer rainfall in the area.

Heavy rain was seen throughout the country, including in Gers in the south and in the Auvergne area.

Throughout the course of the storms, more than 17,000 lightning strikes were recorded, concentrated in the north-eastern section of the storms.

Around 4,500 of these were in the Saône-et-Loire department, although they were recorded as far south as the Pyrénées.