France: Severe weather causing flooding and associated disruptions across parts of the country as of Oct. 18 /update 2

Flooding and associated disruptions are ongoing across parts of France as of Oct.18, with southeastern regions worst affected. Parts of Ardeche Department have recorded nearly 70 cm (28 inches) of rainfall in recent days and the heavy downpours have triggered widespread flooding. Around 900 people were evacuated across Auvergne-Rhine-Alpes Region and hundreds of homes suffered power outages. Emergency services have carried out hundreds of interventions to rescue people amid the flooding in Ardeche Department. Several departmental and national roads are closed due to flooding or landslides in affected areas, including the A47 motorway between Lyon and Saint-Etienne. At least two bridges have collapsed in Loire Department. In Occitanie Region, around 100 homes along the Rhone River have been evacuated in Poit-Saint-Esprit in Gard Department and schools were evacuated and several homes flooded in Chambon-Sur-Lignon in Haute-Loire Department. Around 70 people were evacuated as a precaution in Alpes-Maritime Department in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur Region. Many train services across southern and southeastern France have been suspended. Further north in Ile-de-France Region, authorities reported one fatality after a person was struck by a falling tree in Paris and services are suspended on the RER E line between Haussmann-Saint-Lazare and Rosa Parks stations due to the severe weather. Several roads were made impassable by floodwaters in Essone and Yvelines departments.

Further adverse weather is forecast across parts of the country over the coming days and flooding is likely to continue in some areas. Further rainfall is expected over eastern and southern regions Oct. 18 and a weather system is expected to move in over the western half of the country late Oct. 18-19, bringing light-to-moderate rainfall. Another system is expected to bring strong winds and some rainfall to northwestern regions Oct. 20-21. Meteo France is maintaining the following weather warnings across the country Oct. 18-19:

Oct. 18

• Orange flood warnings (the middle level on a three-tier scale): River basins in Bouches-du-Rhone, Gard, Landes, Loire, and Pyrenees-Atlantiques departments.

• Yellow flood warnings: Several other river basins across northern, southern, south-central, and western France.

• Yellow rain-flood warnings: Alpes-Maritimes, Ariege, Aveyron, Cote-d'Or, Gers, Haute-Garonne, Haute-Marne, Hautes-Pyrenees, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle, Tarn, and Tarn-et-Garonne departments.

• Yellow thunderstorm warnings: Ain, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Alpes-Maritimes, Ardeche, Drome, Haute-Corse, Isere, Loire, Rhone, and Var departments.

• Yellow rough sea warnings: Southwestern coastal areas.

Oct. 19

• Orange flood warnings: River basins in Bouches-du-Rhone, Gard, Landes, Loire, and Pyrenees-Atlantiques departments.

• Yellow flood warnings: Several other river basins across northern, southern, south-central, and western France.

• Yellow rain-flood warnings: Haute-Marne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, and Moselle departments.

• Yellow rough sea warnings: Northwestern, southwestern, and western coastal areas.

Officials could update and extend the coverage of weather alerts over the coming days.

Further sustained heavy rainfall could trigger additional flooding in low-lying communities near rivers, streams, and creeks. Urban flooding is also possible in developed areas with easily overwhelmed or a lack of stormwater drainage systems. Sites located downstream from large reservoirs or rivers may be subject to flash flooding after relatively short periods of intense rainfall. Landslides are possible in hilly or mountainous areas, especially where heavy rain has saturated the soil.

Authorities could issue mandatory evacuation orders for flood-prone communities over the coming days. Where significant flooding, landslides, or strong winds impact utility networks, disruptions to electricity and telecommunications services are possible.

Floodwaters and debris flows may render some bridges or roadways impassable, impacting overland travel in and around affected areas. Ponding on road surfaces could cause hazardous driving conditions on regional highways. Authorities could temporarily close some low-lying routes that become inundated by floodwaters. Severe weather could also trigger flight delays and cancellations at airports across the affected region.

Localized business disruptions may occur in low-lying areas; some businesses might not operate at full capacity because of flood damage to facilities and some employees' inability to reach work sites.