Orange alert for violent storms and floods

Three people were reported missing after a storm sparked intense floods in Auvergne – with an orange storm and flood alert being issued for Auvergne Rhône-Alpes this afternoon.

This morning two of the missing people, two kayakers, were found safe but the third, a farmer from Brignon near Puy-en-Velay, Haute-Loire, was still missing and reports said he had been swept away on his tractor.

The orange alert has been called for the 12 departments in Auvergne Rhône-Alpes with forecasters saying a storm front will cross the region to the east, slowly bringing torrential rain, possible hailstones and fierce winds. The heavy rain is expected to cause floods.

Météo France had yesterday issued a yellow alert for storms and heatwave conditions from Gironde across to the Rhône valley and Lyon area but the slow-moving storm provoked heavy flooding in Haute-Loire. The storm brought several months’ worth of rain in a few hours.

Today’s orange alert runs from noon until at least 20.00 with people warned to stay indoors in the storm and not use telephones or electrical appliances. A yellow storm alert is in force across a large part of southern France from Franche Comté across to the Pays Basque.