Mediterranean storm episode in southeastern France and Corsica, Digi Mart USA News (France): An active and lasting Mediterranean weather episode has set in across the south of France, according to Météo-France. Rain intensified Wednesday evening and continued Thursday, particularly over eastern Corsica, Languedoc and the lower Rhône valley, areas already weakened by the episode of October 19–20.
Successive heavy storms are producing a risk of very significant runoff. Météo-France says dangerous phenomena are expected and urges residents to follow the situation through the official weather vigilance map and to install the Météo-France app with notifications enabled.
On the eastern coast of Corsica, rain that began Wednesday is strengthening throughout Thursday. The first storms struck the eastern Corsican coast and have already produced heavy localized totals, between Figari and Porto-Vecchio.
Storm bursts are expected to continue throughout Thursday and into Friday morning, with rainfall intensities locally exceeding 50 mm per hour.
Across the full episode, accumulations are expected to be roughly 150 to 250 mm over a fairly wide area, and could locally exceed 300 mm over high terrain.
The episode is also strengthening over the Southeast on Thursday, November 5, with easterly to southeasterly winds blowing fairly strongly. In eastern Hérault and southern Gard in particular, stormy rain will persist throughout Thursday, with totals that could exceed 120 mm.
Between 50 and 70 mm had already been recorded overnight in the most exposed sectors, and an additional 70 to 100 mm is expected there by Thursday evening. Conditions are expected to gradually improve overnight from Thursday into Friday.
These rains may fall on soils already saturated by previous intense rainfall and could cause flooding.
Heavy precipitation can have serious consequences for public safety and property. It can cause flooding from runoff and river overflow, as well as landslides, mudflows and torrential debris flows.
Météo-France advises residents to learn the dangers and the appropriate protective measures.
