Météo France places 10 departments of Occitanie on orange vigilance “storms and rains” – France 3 Régions

Météo France services are alerting. Major thunderstorms will cross the country, and more particularly the Occitanie region, where the disturbances should take on a Mediterranean character during the night of Wednesday 08 to Thursday 09 September. Heavy rains, lightning, winds and sometimes hail are expected. As a reminder, a Mediterranean episode refers to a meteorological phenomenon: huge storm cells forming in the Mediterranean Sea, generating large layers of water, and which remain stationary. With the risk of accumulations which can exceed 200 mm locally in a few hours. And can therefore locally cause rapid rises in water as well as runoff.

? 32 deposits in #vigilanceOrange

Stay informed on https://t.co/rJ24zzmmy4 pic.twitter.com/gt5gMzXK6Q

– VigiMeteoFrance (@VigiMeteoFrance) September 8, 2021

Météo France has placed Ariège, Aude, Aveyron, Haute-Garonne, Gers, Lot, Lot et Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées, Tarn, as well as Tarn-et-Garonne in vigilance Orange. The Hérault and the Pyrénées-Orientales are for their part placed in yellow vigilance.

For Alix Roumagnac, from the company Predict, “It is a very complex situation to analyze and which evolves from hour to hour. It is advisable to be very careful on the precise location: Tuesday evening, the models predicted heavy precipitation rather on the Minervois and the Caroux massif. Since this morning, the models have rather indicated a risk on the Carcassonne. But that can still change, you have to be careful everywhere! “

It is a very complex situation to analyze and which evolves from hour to hour

Alix Roumagnac, Predict

The only certainty is that violent thunderstorms accompanied by intense precipitation will approach the region from the west, in the first part of the evening, before heading east. The rainy episode could last until Friday. Pending a possible episode, the Aude firefighters have taken the lead by prepositioning 14 teams of nautical rescue specialists throughout the department. the barracks staff will also be reinforced during the alert. The department was also able to receive external reinforcements: three flood rescue groups from Gard, Vaucluse and Bouches-du-Rhône, departments not concerned by the weather alert. In addition, the Aude SDIS will benefit from an additional helicopter, coming from the Gard, which will be pre-positioned in Narbonne.

In total, 32 French departments in a situation of vigilance, a sign of the importance of the episode, but also of uncertainties about its location. As in each of these stormy episodes, you should limit your movements and avoid outdoor activities.