Southern France faces severe flooding and storms

Southern France is facing severe weather conditions as intense rainfall and storms trigger flooding risks. Météo-France has issued orange warnings for the Gard and Hérault departments, describing the situation as an extraordinary Mediterranean episode. In Saint-Hippolyte-du-Fort, rainfall reached 338 mm within 24 hours, while Colognac recorded 204 mm in just six hours.

The heavy rains have already caused significant disruption in Montpellier, where streets have flooded and the Lez river has overflowed. In Lattes, authorities have evacuated dozens of homes, and flooding has affected an oncology institute. Additionally, two simultaneous tornadoes were observed near Aigues-Mortes in the Gard department.

Following the weather in France, extreme conditions are expected to move into eastern Spain later this week. Regions near Valencia may experience between 150 mm and 200 mm of rain, posing risks of sudden river surges and local flooding. While the rainfall may help alleviate ongoing droughts in Spain, the intensity of the storms remains a primary concern.