Météo France has issued its highest warning for the Alpes-Maritimes, placing the region on red alert as severe storms and heavy rainfall threaten to cause significant flooding from 6pm on Thursday evening.
The French national weather service raised the alert level from yellow at around 2.30pm Thursday due to an ongoing weather event, known as an épisode cévenol, which has already brought unprecedented rainfall to other parts of southern France. With saturated ground and the prospect of up to 100mm of rain expected in some areas, there are significant concerns about widespread flooding in the Alpes-Maritimes and surrounding regions.
In anticipation of potentially significant flooding, the Prefect of the Alpes-Maritimes closed all childcare centres and schools on Thursday. Monaco’s schools have remained open.
Not long after the extreme weather warning, the Monaco government issued a statement saying that all regional TER train services in the region, including Monaco, will be completely suspended from 5:30pm on Thursday until the end of the day.
The highest alert possible
The red alert is the highest level of weather warning in France, signifying a severe threat to life and property. Residents in affected areas are advised to limit travel, secure their homes, and avoid rivers or flood-prone zones. The region is expected to experience a brief respite from the rain by late Thursday night, but conditions remain highly unpredictable.
Elsewhere, similar weather patterns are affecting the Haut-Allier region, which has also been placed on red alert for rising river levels. Heavy rain across the Pyrenees and parts of the southwest is contributing to further concerns, with localised storms expected to last until Friday morning.
Authorities are urging the public to stay informed by consulting updates from the national weather service and other official channels. The red alert will remain in place until further notice, depending on the evolving situation.
Related:
Red alert halts all TER train services in Monaco and Alpes-Maritime
Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Tik Tok.
Main photo composed by Monaco Life using Meteo France storm map