LIVE. Cévennes episode: floods, rain-flooding… 18 departments still on orange alert after “exceptional rains”

L'Ardèche a été placée en vigilance rouge pluie-inondation et crues ce jeudi 17 octobre 2024 MICKAEL ANISSET - Midi Libre

Heavy rainfall has fallen across a large part of France with very significant cumulative rainfall. At the height of this intense Cévennes episode, 6 departments were placed on red alert by Météo-France and 34 on orange alert. This Friday, October 18, 2024, 18 departments remain affected by an orange alert for floods.

The essentials:

In its 6 o'clock bulletin, Météo-France lifted the orange “rain-flood” warning for the following departments: Ardèche (07), Haute-Vienne (87), Corrèze (19), Aveyron (12), Eure-et-Loir (28), Loir-et-Cher (41), Indre (28) and all departments of Île-de-France. The station announces the end of the Cévennes episode which gave exceptional rainfall accumulations, particularly on the Ardèche relief. The observed accumulations reach 600 to 700 mm in 48 hours, with for example 686 mm in Mayres (07), 680 mm in Loubaresse, and 711 mm in Vialas (48). 18 departments are still on orange alert for floods or rain-flooding. The authorities are still calling for the utmost caution. 06:26.

Towards the end of the Cévennes episode ?

“The Cévennes episode is over. A few showers are still possible, but not on a par with the rainy episode of the last two days” , specifies Météo-France in its latest bulletin.

06:26.

Red alert lifted in the last departments concerned

The red flood alert was lifted on Friday morning in the last four departments concerned (Rhône, Loire, Haute-Loire and Lozère), but 18 departments in the southern half remain affected by an orange alert “floods” or “rain-flooding” , indicated Météo-France.

“Exceptional” intense rains

“Exceptional” rains fell this Thursday, October 17, 2024 on the Center-East and the South-East of France. At the height of the episode, 6 departments were on red alert including Ardèche and 34 on orange alert.