15 French departments still on orange storm or heatwave alert

[Update June 22 at 14:00 - The departments under orange storm alerts this morning have now been downgraded to yellow. However, Indre-et-Loire, Maine-et-Loire, Sarthe, Mayenne and Ille-et-Vilaine have moved from yellow to orange.]

Some 15 departments in eastern and western France remain under weather warnings for the heatwave or for storms this morning (June 22).

Creuse, Haute-Vienne, Dordogne, Vienne, Deux-Sèvres, Charente-Maritime, Gironde, Charente and Landes are on an orange alert for storms, joined by 76 other departments under a yellow warning. This concerns all of France except the far north and Corsica.

National weather forecasting service Météo France stated this morning that the weather was already stormy in the north of Aquitaine and over Landes, where there was “strong lightning activity, hail and high wind gusts”.

The storm is expected to move northwards towards Haute-Vienne and Creuse, but will then calm in the middle of the morning.

While it is still taking place, residents can expect hailstorms, winds of 80-90km/h and 30-50mm of rain.

The orange weather warning will be downgraded to yellow towards the end of the morning, but will remain in force until the early hours of tomorrow morning (June 23).

Jura, Saône-et-Loire, Ain, Rhône, Loire and Isère, in eastern France, are under an orange alert for the heatwave today, with maximum temperatures expected to reach 33-37C.

Do I need to do anything?

Residents in the departments included in Météo France’s storm warning should keep away from bodies of water, shelter within buildings with a solid structure, secure possessions which could be blown or carried away by wind or floodwater, and avoid going out.

Those in areas affected by the heatwave should make sure to drink water several times a day, continue to eat normally, avoid going out in peak heatwave hours and limit physical activity.

If you do need to go out, you are advised to wear light clothing and a sun hat.

If you are suffering from the heat, it may help to wet your skin a few times a day, or to take a bath or shower in tepid water.

You should close your shutters and curtains during the day and keep the windows open at night.

Make sure to check on elderly or sick relatives and friends, and take them to a cool, airy place if possible.

You can find additional advice on the health ministry website or on Météo France.

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