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Storm alerts lifted in southern France, rain and wind across north
Sunshine returns to south-east after violent storms lead to two deaths
Heightened storm alerts have been lifted in the south of France, although conditions remain wet and windy across much of the country.
Several departments along the Mediterranean saw heightened orange alerts for flooding and stormy conditions implemented, as a bout of intense storms hit the area at the start of the week.
This included the temporary raising of red alerts, the highest possible, in parts of Corsica on Tuesday where a man died after reportedly being swept away in his 4x4. Another person died due to flooding in Bouches-du-Rhône.
Conditions in the south have improved considerably this morning, with sunshine forecast. However, warnings over high river levels from rainfall at the start of the week remain, said state forecaster Météo France in its morning bulletin.
River levels are receding, however, and the alerts do not require drivers or residents to take specific action, but simply remain vigilant of the risk of high river levels.
Corsica is still at risk of stormy weather, and fierce winds up to 100km/h are possible today. If storms do appear on the island, they should end by the evening.
The torrential rains on Tuesday led to a 4x4 vehicle being swept away by the swollen waters of the Fium'orbu river in Ghisonaccia (Haute-Corse), Actu.fr reported.
One of the occupants of the 4x4 reportedly managed to escape through a window, while the body of the other - a man in his sixties - was later found under the vehicle.
Outside of the south-east, drizzle is forecast across much of the country. Rain will be predominant in the south-west and along the Belgian border in the morning, moving eastwards throughout the day.
Rain will be interspersed with sunny periods across the north.
A new bout of rain will hit the Atlantic coast by the evening, bringing showers to these areas, potentially thunderstorms.
Storms along the English Channel are also possible in the evening, although these will not be as powerful as those seen in the south earlier this week.
Winds of potentially 100 km/h along these coasts during the storms are possible (and up to 60km/h earlier in the day) with the southern Tramontane wind reaching 80km/h - 90km/h.
Snow will return to the Alps at a lower altitude, with the first flocons falling at around 1,600m. In the evening, once temperatures have dropped, snow is possible at altitudes of 1,200m.
Conditions are set to remain largely similar for the rest of the week, with persistent drizzle across most of the country bar the south-east.
Thursday will see rain lodged in the north and west, making its way towards the east of the country on Friday morning.
Temperatures will drop at the end of the week, with highs of 11C - 13C in the north and 16C - 18C in the south. Corsica and Perpignan may both briefly reach highs of 20C.
