Severe storms: 14 French departments under orange alert with hail up to 4 cm and flood risk expected

Météo-France has placed 14 departments under orange alert this Tuesday, June 3, due to a potentially intense storm system sweeping through the country. The storms are expected to hit the central-east region in the afternoon before moving southwest in the evening. Forecasts include wind gusts up to 100 km/h, intense downpours of 20 to 70 mm in a short time, and hailstones potentially exceeding 4 cm in diameter.

Two storm waves expected throughout the day

In the central-east, departments such as Ain, Jura, Loire, Rhône, Saône-et-Loire, Haute-Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal and Allier will be affected from early afternoon, with severe thunderstorms bringing hail, strong winds, and intense lightning.

Later in the evening, a second wave is forecast for the southwest, affecting Gers, Tarn-et-Garonne, Haute-Garonne, Hautes-Pyrénées and Pyrénées-Atlantiques. These storms are expected to bring heavy rainfall in a short period, increasing the risk of flash floods and surface runoff.

Nighttime calm before renewed risk on Wednesday

Météo-France expects a lull in storm activity by mid-night, before a renewed risk of thunderstorms emerges in the southeast on Wednesday. The Atlantic coast will experience more overcast skies and drizzle, while sunshine is expected to persist around the Mediterranean. Temperatures will remain near seasonal averages, with Marseille forecast to reach up to 30°C.