-
Thousands of litres of fuel spill into fields in Normandy after tanker overturns
Tests are being carried out into risk of pollution of local water supplies to homes
-
Speed limits to (mostly) drop to 30 km/h in this French city
The new measure will improve noise and pollution, improve safety and encourage cycling, say local authorities
-
Thousands of French parking fines cancelled after IT bug
The fines had been issued in error after IT system was privatised
Western France on alert as storm Alex nears
Forecasters put five departments on orange alert for high winds and flooding as the first Atlantic storm of the season barrels towards coast
Storm Alex, the first of the season is rapidly approaching western France, prompting forecasters to place five departments on orange alert for high winds and flooding.
Météo France warned that the four departments that make up the modern Brittany region - Finistère, Côtes-d'Armor, Morbihan and Ille-et-Vilaine, as well as the neighbouring Loire-Atlantique should expect winds of between 100kph inland and 140kph in coastal areas as the storm passes.
Read more: ‘Remarkable’ early snowfall in French mountain ranges
Heavy rain is also expected once Alex reaches France on Thursday afternoon. Further south along the Atlantic coast, winds of between 80kph to 120kph are expected, from the Charente south into the Basque Country.
On Friday, large swathes of the country will be affected as the storm passes. The risk of thunderstorms will also be monitored in the southeast, and gales and heavy rains are forecast for the weekend.