Risk of flooding as strong rains set to return to the south of France
Rain will fall mainly along Mediterranean coast with up to 160 mm forecast
It is the third consecutive week where rain is predicted for the area after Storms Ledlie and Kirk
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The south of France is set to face another week of storms and heavy rainfall, with a new episode cévenol (or Mediterranean) forecast.
The rains – which are predicted to begin from Thursday (October 24) and last up until Sunday (October 27) in some areas – will be the third consecutive downpours in three weeks, following the passages of Storms Leslie and Kirk.
Up to 160 mm of rain is predicted to fall along parts of the Mediterranean coast, and around 100 mm inland.
Flooding may occur especially in areas where heavy rains from the previous weeks have already saturated soils.
However, the downpours will be more centred along the coast in the Var and Bouches-du-Rhône departments, as well as in Provence and the Rhône Valley, avoiding the worst-hit areas of last week’s storms.
State forecaster Météo France will put official warnings in place – if any are required – on Wednesday (October 23) morning, although these are likely to change as weather events progress.
Read more: What to do - and not do - in a red or orange weather alert in France
What is an episode cévenol?
An episode cévenol (sometimes called an episode Mediterranean when it is predominantly the coast affected) is caused by a clash of warm and cold air.
Warm air rolls in from the Mediterranean sea, and comes into contact with cold air in the mountain ranges of the Massif Central or Alps.
This sudden interaction caused clouds to condense and drop their rain violently, leading to intense downpours where weeks worth of rain can fall in a few hours.
The phenomena particularly affects the Cévennes mountains (hence the name episode cévenol), as well as the south-east of France around the Alps. In some cases, the airs clash closer to the shore, causing rains to fall earlier.
These episodes are expected each year, and are mostly seen in autumn and more occasionally spring. In recent years, however, they have been happening more frequently and at more points throughout the year.
Read more: What weather is predicted for France this winter?
