Storms set to hit eastern side of France today

Storms are set to cover much of France today and will be particularly powerful in the east, bringing heavy rain and hail.

Rain swept in from the west overnight, and by this morning has covered much of the country with clouds and drizzle. 

Generally, the western coast should remain calm from mid-morning onwards, with small patches of rain and cloudy skies but generally mild conditions. Morning storms around Bordeaux should quickly move eastwards.

Moving inland, the first bout of storms covers an area along the Loire Valley, east through central France and up to Paris. This round of disturbances may begin at any point in the morning, and last until the evening.

However, the most powerful storms are forecast in the east, around the German border, the Rhône Valley, Provence, and the Riviera. 

Following on from persistent morning rain, these storms will begin in the early afternoon and last until around 18:00.

Forecasts predict up to 30mm of rain falling across the day in these eastern areas, bringing a risk of mudslides and rapidly rising rivers. 

Hail is a possibility – expected to reach up to 3cm in diameter near the German border – and winds may reach 100 km/h along the Rhône valley. 

Stormy conditions should end by the evening, with a peaceful day of respite on Wednesday (June 3) before further storms on Thursday.

Advice for storms

Despite the predicted conditions, state forecaster Météo France has not issued heightened warnings over today’s storms. 

Almost all departments are on a tier-two yellow alert for stormy weather, the first level of warning given. This does not come with any specific recommendations aside from general caution during disturbances and keeping up with local weather reports. 

It is only at a tier-three orange level and above that Météo France issues behavioural advice due to weather conditions. 

Residents across France, but particularly in the east, should keep up to date with information today, as warning levels may increase at any point throughout the day.

Homeowners should also prepare their properties adequately for a storm to prevent any potential issues. 

This includes tying down outside furniture, keeping cars away from trees that may be uprooted or branches brought down, and having an emergency supply kit in case of an extended power outage. 

Following damage from a storm, your insurer may ask for a ‘lightning certificate’ to validate your claim. More information about obtaining one is available in our article here. 

Note that claims for storm damage do not usually fall under the natural disaster (catastrophe naturelle) system.

While tier-two yellow alerts do not come with any specific warnings for people outside, general caution is advised and drivers should be careful on roads, avoiding easily flooded areas or roads that look like they are already flooded.