Storm Barbara: warning for southwest France

Storm Barbara is forecast to bring high winds to southwest France from Tuesday, while forecasters are also warning of sudden violent thunderstorms in the region.

The storm's arrival - a fortnight after Storm Alex wrought havoc in the southeast of the country - heralds the end of cold weather in the area that has been a hallmark of the month so far. According to Météo France, it has been the coldest October, since 1988.

Gusts of up to 150kph are predicted at higher altitudes in the Pyrénées as Storm Barbara sweeps up from Spain on Tuesday, according to La Chaîne Météo, while higher temperatures will mean the early snow that has fallen - which arrived about a month earlier than is typical - will melt quickly, prompting experts to warn of possible flooding.

Heavy rainfall is forecast over the Cévennes from Tuesday evening until late Thursday evening, or even into Friday, with up to two months' rainfall expected in just a few days. Despite the heavy downpour, "the risk of flooding seems to be relatively limited at the moment," according to La Chaîne Météo.