historic rains and floods, still 18 departments on alert but none in red

07:59 – More than 1000 emergency interventions during bad weather

Violent bad weather, whether torrential rains or significant floods, caused widespread damage in several regions of France. Thus, more than 1000 rescue interventions took place according to a press release published Thursday by the Ministry of the Interior, including “25 people rescued”. To meet the need, 1,500 firefighters were deployed supported by five civil security helicopters. “Nearly 900 people were also brought to safety” the press release also adds.

07:51 – “The Cévennes episode is over”: alerts downgraded in 15 departments

“The Cévennes episode is over” affirmed Météo France this Friday morning. But showers are still expected in several regions, although without being comparable to the precipitation of the last 48 hours. “A disturbance extends from the southwest to Hauts-de-France”, they could be “stormy and sometimes sustained” in Franche-Comté in Burgundy and in the north of Occitanie.

A sign that the Cévennes episode is over: already 15 departments have seen their alert level downgraded to yellow vigilance. This is the case in Var, Alpes-Maritimes, Ardèche, Haute-Vienne, Corrèze, Aveyron, Eure-et-Loir, Loir-et-Cher, Indre and all the departments of Ile-de-France.

10/17/24 – 11:52 p.m. – After the South-East, the South-West?

END OF LIVE – Beyond the Pyrenees, Météo-France forecasts rain and thunderstorms in the rest of the South-West tonight and until Friday morning. The meteorological service warns, however, that this rain “will become particularly lasting in the evening and the following night”, from Friday to Saturday. What to expect concretely? Cumulative amounts of 50 to 90 mm of rain are expected throughout this episode, “with possible peaks of around 100 mm between the Lot and the Tarn”, specifies Météo-France.

10/17/24 – 11:36 p.m. – No return to calm before midday Friday in the Pyrenees?

Still in its bulletin, Météo-France focuses on the situation in the Pyrenees. Whether in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques or the Hautes-Pyrénées, the precipitation will persist in the coming hours and end up “giving very significant rainfall accumulations, locally exceeding 100 mm since the start of the episode”. The Basque mountains should be particularly concerned. What about a return to calm in the surrounding area? An “attenuation” is expected “in the morning of Friday near the Pyrenees”, indicates the meteorological service.

10/17/24 – 11:07 p.m. – Concern in the Var and the Alpes-Maritimes, the peak of activity expected tonight

After the spectacular images of the floods this Thursday, Météo-France notes in its latest bulletin that the rain-storm episode “returns in intensity this Thursday evening” and warns that “the peak of activity is expected in the hours to come” in these two departments. “Another 60 to 80 mm in a short time, or even 100 mm locally on the relief”, could thus fall. This new episode occurs after heavy rains have already fallen and the soil is already saturated with water. Météo-France is therefore considering widespread flooding. The lull should occur “at the end of the night from Thursday to Friday”.

10/17/24 – 10:51 p.m. – More than 1,000 interventions and 25 rescues

In its press release, the Ministry of the Interior indicated at the start of the evening that more than 1,000 emergency interventions had already taken place this Thursday, October 17. No fewer than 25 rescues were also carried out and nearly 900 people were evacuated.

10/17/24 – 10:03 p.m. – The Montparnasse district submerged

A week after the passage of Storm Kirk, rain fell again on the capital. The Montparnasse district was particularly affected. So around the famous tower, scooters and cars struggled to move forward at the end of the afternoon/early evening on completely flooded roads.

10/17/24 – 9:48 p.m. – “It’s almost 50% of what falls per year”: the prefect of Ardèche takes stock of the situation in Annonay

Speaking to franceinfo on Thursday evening, the prefect of Ardèche, Sophie Elizéon, reported that “150 to 200 mm” of rain had fallen in recent hours in the Annonay basin. And to note: “It’s almost 50% of what falls per year!” The prefect also gave an update on the human toll: “At this stage, three people were taken to Annonay hospital with minor injuries and emerged without problem.”

10/17/24 – 9:33 p.m. – Crossed by the Rhône, Avignon prepares for floods

In a press release, the Vaucluse prefecture indicates that “a flood of Cevennes rivers is still in progress” and that “by propagation downstream, a progressive increase in flow rates has been observed on the Rhône since last night , the peak of which is expected around 9 p.m. in the north of Vaucluse, and around 1 a.m. in Avignon. In general, the prefecture alerts residents that “the risks of flooding are particularly marked in Avignon and the north of the department, in particular in Lapalud, Mondragon, Lamotte-du-Rhône and Caderousse”. These municipalities have already activated their municipal protection plan.

10/17/24 – 9:08 p.m. – Rail traffic interrupted for several days between Lyon and Saint-Étienne

The official account of the SNCF in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes reported a situation which promises to be complicated in the coming days on the TER line which connects Lyon to Saint-Étienne. “Rail traffic will not be able to resume for several days,” SNCF made it clear, specifying that safety checks will be necessary on the installations. But this can only be done when the recession is over. The situation is therefore beyond the control of the railway company. It is still unclear whether coaches will be put in place in the coming days to replace trains, as many roads have also been flooded.

10/17/24 – 8:47 p.m. – “This meteorological episode risks intensifying in the coming hours”, declares Michel Barnier

The Prime Minister reacted Thursday evening on to the violent bad weather currently hitting France. “This evening, my thoughts are with the people seriously affected by the floods and heavy rains in the south-east of our country”, he first declared, before warning: “This meteorological episode may intensify in the coming hours. I call on everyone to exercise the greatest caution.” Michel Barnier also assured that “state services are fully mobilized to help those who need it, alongside elected officials”.