Two departments in northern France are on heightened alert for heavy rain and flash flooding today (May 5), as severe weather continues to hit France.
State forecaster Météo France has placed the Mayenne and Sarthe on a tier-three orange warning, the second-highest possible, for the conditions.
The warnings are in place until 18:00 but may be extended.
Advice for residents in areas facing the alerts includes avoiding driving on any partially flooded roads, staying indoors where possible, and keeping up to date with local weather information.
A band of storms is set to cover France from the south-west to the north-east today, cutting through central France and flanked by heavy rainfall on either side.
This rain will be persistent, particularly in more westerly areas around the Loire Valley.
More alerts to come?
The heightened alerts come amid a wave of rain and storms across France, beginning over the weekend and stretching until Wednesday (May 6).
In its 08:00 bulletin, the state forecaster placed all but 13 departments – all located along the English Channel or Riviera coastlines – on tier-two yellow alerts for rain, storms, or a combination of the two.
These alerts, the first warning level possible, warn of stronger than usual conditions, and ask residents to keep up to date with local reports.
However, further warnings may be put in place as the day progresses.
Last night, Météo France placed Hérault and Gard on orange alerts for heavy rain, before lifting them this morning.
The alerts came as the forecaster warned of an ‘épisode méditerranéen’, which sees powerful storms fall between the Mediterranean coastline and southern mountain ranges.
Rainclouds are blocked by ranges such as the Alps or Massif Central, depositing heavy rainfall in smaller spaces and far more intensely than usual.
These warnings may be reinstated, or other heightened alerts raised in the south, depending on the severity of these storms.
