Thunderstorms: 19 departments in orange alert in the West and South West – L’Express

That’s almost the entire Atlantic coast of France that will be affected by this Wednesday evening thunderstorms. Meteo France placed 19 departments, from Normandy to the Pyrenees in orange alert for “locally strong thunderstorms” provided later in the day on Wednesday. In all relevant departments, these storms could be locally accompanied “by heavy rain and hail, as well as sudden and strong gusts of wind,” warns Météo-France.

Seine-Maritime, Eure, Calvados, Orne, Mayenne, Sarthe, the Channel, the Ille-et-Vilaine, Côtes d’Armor and Finistère, are thus placed in orange alert after 6 p.m. Wednesday until 10:00 on Thursday. Further south, nine other departments are placed in orange alert for the same reasons, 10:00 p.m. Wednesday to Thursday 11:00: Charente, Charente-Maritime, Dordogne, Gironde, Landes, Lot-et-Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Gers and Hautes Pyrenees.

Wind gusts up to 90 km / h

According to forecasts, “a broad area of ​​low pressure” over the Atlantic “will promote the evening and night next formation of an active storm system passing through the western areas is “. The first storms are expected in the beginning of night on the coastal departments of Aquitaine, with gusts up to 80-90 km / h and hail fall hazards. They should then extend to the north and west by losing intensity.

Météo-France recommends particular caution and vigilance for “travel and leisure activities” and the “precautions” to “protect against the effects of lightning”