Storm alert hits school transport

SCHOOL has been cancelled today for many pupils in the Pyrénées-Orientales, because of torrential rain and strong winds.

Météo France has issued an "orange" weather alert for six departments in the Languedoc-Roussillon and parts of the Midi-Pyrénées.

The Pyrénées-Orientales is the worst-hit, where 25cm of rain has fallen since Saturday afternoon, the equivalent of four months' rainfall.

As a precautionary measure, the department is not running any school transport, except in Perpignan.

Other affected departments are the Hérault, Tarn, Haute-Garonne, Ariège and Aude. The storm alert is in place until at least 16.00 today.

As well as heavy rain, there are waves of up to seven metres along the Mediterranean coast, fanned by winds of up to 100kph.

Météo France is calling for vigilance. Localised flooding is possible and several small roads are cut off. Power cuts are also likely.

The orange alert has been lifted for three other departments: the Gers, Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées.