Heavy rain and flood alerts for the next 24 hours in eastern France

Four departments in the east of France have been placed on orange alert for rain and floods today (December 29).

The departments are Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Ain and Isère.

Weather service Météo-France states:

“The rainfall will continue to be fairly steady until the middle of the night before weakening significantly in the second half of the night and ceasing tomorrow, Thursday.”

The weather service is predicting between 40 to 60mm more rain to fall, rising to 80mm in some areas.

Do I need to do anything if in these areas?

This is an ‘orange alert’ which means you should ‘be very vigilant’.

Local residents who are in an area with an orange rain and flood alert should keep away from bodies of water and low areas and instead head for higher ground or an upstairs room, Météo-France advises.

It adds that people should avoid going out if possible, but if driving, do not begin down a road that is flooded, even if only partially.

Do not go down into cellars and basements, and make sure to keep up to date with the situation as it unfolds.

You can read more about the amber alert on Météo-France’s website here

Avalanche alert

An orange alert for avalanches has also been set for Savoie and Haute-Savoie, with a less serious yellow avalanche alert placed on Isère.

“The avalanche activity expected over the next 24 hours is observed on average two to three times per winter in the massifs of Savoie and Haute-Savoie,” Météo-France states.

“Although serious, this episode does not appear to be exceptional, but it requires special monitoring, given the already high level of the waterways, the saturation of the soil and the melting of the snow at low altitudes.”

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