Metropolitan France, which has experienced very heavy flooding in recent weeks, particularly in Pas-de-Calais, was affected between mid-October and mid-November 2023 by unprecedented accumulations of rain over a long period, announced Météo-France.
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Between October 18 and November 16, i.e. thirty days, France recorded an average cumulative rainfall of 237.3 millimeters: “ Over the last four weeks, across France, such quantities of rain have never been measuredindicates Météo-France. This is the first time that France has recorded such an accumulation over 30 consecutive days, all seasons combined. » The previous record recorded over an equivalent period was 187.1 millimeters, between January 13 and February 11, 1988.
This extraordinary precipitation, caused by a succession of almost continuous rainy spells, can be explained according to Météo-France by a “rail of depressions” which has dominated the near Atlantic for a month : a high altitude atmospheric current still present in the northern hemisphere and blowing from west to east, is directed towards France » and acts as “ highway for disruptions ”, which can circulate freely.
Slow improvement in Pas-de-Calais
After a 48-hour lull and a well-advanced decline, residents of Pas-de-Calais are still in “apprehension” this November 18, due to light rain expected on soils saturated by two weeks of devastating floods. “ The rains forecast for Saturday could slow down this decline, or even cause the levels to rise moderately. », predicts Vigicrues. But the Pas-de-Calais prefecture does not expect “ a significant impact on the dynamics of recession initiated “.
In recent days, there have been successive signs of improvement: almost all of the schools closed at the start of the week were able to gradually reopen on Thursday and Friday, and the region announced on Friday a “ full resumption of school and intercity transport from Saturday, subject to the practicability of the roads “.
Some regions protected by the reliefs, however, have been less affected than others over the last three weeks, underlines the meteorological institution, in particular the Mediterranean rim and the north-east of Corsica. Although they constitute natural phenomena, floods, cyclones and droughts can be amplified by global warming generated by human activities.
(With AFP)
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