Haute-Garonne and Tarn on orange weather alerts for strong winds

Haute-Garonne and Tarn (Occitanie) are being placed under orange weather warnings today (April 11), as the departments brace themselves for a night of very high winds.

Wind speeds are expected to reach 80-90km/h in the south of Tarn and 110-120km/h in the foothills of the Montagne Noire, the area around Castres and towards Toulouse and Carcassonne.

This is due to the Autan wind, which blows from the south west of France, generally affecting the Languedoc and Guyenne – spreading across the more northerly areas of Occitanie and Nouvelle Aquitaine – two or three times a year.

Gusts of 60-70km/h have already been observed between Castres and Toulouse, and of 80-90km/h in the Montagne Noire foothills.

The weather alert will take effect at 18:00 this evening and last at least until 06:00 tomorrow morning (April 12).

The departments surrounding Haute-Garonne and Tarn are also under a yellow alert for strong winds.

It is expected that the wind will die down over the course of tomorrow afternoon, with conditions returning to normal by nightfall.

Toulouse’s mairie has decided to close certain public parks considered to be “at risk” as a result of the wind.

Do I need to do anything?

The wind could cause electricity and telephone line issues, as well as disrupting road traffic.

Local residents should watch out for falling branches and roof tiles, and are advised to limit their movements if possible.

It is also recommended that people secure any possessions which could be blown away.

You can find out more on the Météo France website.

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