Météo-France upgraded Corsica-du-Sud to an orange rain-flood warning on Tuesday, 20 October, as the national forecaster issued its 10 a.m. bulletin tracking a Mediterranean rain and thunderstorm episode that intensified overnight and into the morning.
Four Departments Under Orange Alert
The orange rain-flood warning now covers Haute-Corse, Corsica-du-Sud and the Var. The Var is additionally placed under an orange thunderstorm alert, while the Gard remains under an orange flood warning.
Meanwhile, five departments were downgraded to yellow vigilance: Ardèche, Bouches-du-Rhône, Gard, Hérault and Vaucluse.
Rainfall Shifts Eastward
“The Mediterranean rain and thunderstorm episode that has set in intensified last night and this morning. The rains are shifting eastward,” the forecaster said.
In the Bouches-du-Rhône, Météo-France recorded “very high rainfall accumulations over the past 24 hours, frequently 100 to 150 mm from Vitrolles to Arles, with locally 235 mm at Saint-Chamas.”
In Haute-Corse, showers are expected to persist until late afternoon. “Potentially virulent thunderstorms” are also set to sweep across the island from west to east.
Disruption Across the South-East
The heavy rainfall has already caused significant disruption in the region. Part of the A9 motorway was closed and streets were flooded in Lunel, in the Hérault department, as the storm system moved through south-eastern France.
Authorities continue to monitor river levels in the Gard, where the flood alert remains in force, and residents in affected areas are advised to stay informed of evolving conditions.
