Southeastern France Mediterranean rain episode and Corsica flood risk, Digi Mart USA News (southeastern France): A small depression over western France is destabilizing the air mass and bringing instability to the country this first week of November. Weather conditions in the Southeast have become disruptive, with rain moving north from the Mediterranean toward the Cévennes, Provence and Corsica.
Both Corsican departments are under orange rain-flood alert for Thursday.
The rain will at times be intense and stormy, potentially generating flash floods. Forecasters say the episode is expected to be lasting, with no improvement before Friday evening, so the situation will need close monitoring.
Moderate to locally heavy rain is already affecting the Mediterranean coast, from Roussillon to the Côte d’Azur. Precipitation is expected to be heaviest between the Gard and the western Bouches-du-Rhône.
In the evening, rain will continue across the southeastern Massif Central, northern Languedoc and western Provence, while stormy showers may develop between the Var and Corsica.
Another rain episode is due to begin overnight Wednesday into Thursday over eastern Corsica, with locally marked intensities. Rain will continue to push north from the Mediterranean toward Languedoc and the Var coast.
Conditions are expected to spread across the entire Southeast overnight, weakening only gradually, though heavy rain will persist over eastern Corsica.
Drier weather is expected Friday morning between the Gulf of Lion and the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, while rain continues over Haute-Corse. Conditions there are not expected to improve until late Friday.
Calm, dry weather should follow for the weekend.
Between now and Friday, totals of 60 to 120 millimeters are common, with up to 200 millimeters locally in the western Bouches-du-Rhône. Watercourse reactions are generally expected to be limited.
The situation is considerably more worrying in Corsica, where Météo-France says totals will become significant from the end of the night, especially over the eastern relief. Totals of 250 to 400 millimeters are forecast between Porto-Vecchio and Corte, with localized peaks above 500 and possibly 600 millimeters.
This episode resembles the October 29 event that particularly affected the Solenzara area. Significant river flooding is possible, and Météo-France is considering raising the alert to red.
