Seven departments in southeastern France remained under orange alert on Tuesday, October 20, as a Mediterranean weather episode that began Monday continued to unleash heavy rainfall and cause significant flooding across the region, according to Météo-France’s 6 a.m. bulletin.
The alert level covers Ardèche (rain-flooding), Bouches-du-Rhône (rain-flooding and storms), Haute-Corse (rain-flooding), Gard (flooding), Hérault (flooding), Var (rain-flooding and storms), and Vaucluse (rain-flooding). The warning for Lozère has been lifted.
Overnight Deluge Causes Widespread Disruption
Heavy rain battered the southeast throughout the night. Météo-France reported that the Mediterranean rainstorm system, which established itself on Monday afternoon, intensified overnight from Monday to Tuesday in the Languedoc region. Rainfall accumulations over the past 12 hours reached 60 to 90 mm in southern Lozère and 60 to 80 mm in inland Hérault.
The downpour triggered localized flooding in several municipalities. Port-de-Bouc and Istres in Bouches-du-Rhône reported impassable streets and power outages on Tuesday morning, while significant flooding was reported in Lunel, Hérault.
Around fifteen people were taken in by the local authority at a reception center in Lunel, according to the departmental fire service. Gard firefighters reported carrying out 41 “safety operations” overnight and mobilizing nearly 100 personnel.
Rivers Overflow as Flooding Cuts Key Routes
Significant flooding is underway on the Vistre and Vidourle rivers, both maintained under orange alert. Initial localized overflows on waterways under yellow alert were also recorded overnight in Hérault, Lozère, and Aveyron, according to Vigicrues.
These floods and inundations are cutting off several road routes across the southeast on Tuesday morning. The A9 motorway is closed in both directions—toward Spain and toward Lyon—between Nîmes and Gallargues/Aigues-Mortes due to submerged roadways, according to a statement from Vinci Autoroutes.
Parts of the A7 and A8 around Marseille are partially flooded, and slip roads have been closed. In the Phocaean city, tram services are also suspended on Tuesday morning, and one metro station is not being served. Montpellier Mayor Michaël Delafosse has called on motorists to exercise vigilance on Tuesday morning.
More Rain Forecast
Météo-France forecasts that rain showers, sometimes accompanied by thunderstorms, will persist for several more hours in Gard and Ardèche, with intensities potentially reaching 30 mm per hour. For Bouches-du-Rhône, Vaucluse, and Var, accumulations of 50 to 80 mm are expected under showers, with localized totals up to 150 mm within a few hours.
In Corsica, rainfall will continue until late afternoon, and potentially violent storms are expected to sweep across the island from west to east. From midnight Tuesday, only flood warnings will remain in effect.
This Mediterranean episode is linked to a cold drop named “Adam” in Spain, a country hit by torrential rain and flooding that has claimed at least four lives.
