France Braces For Violent Storms After Weeks Of Drought
Sumaira FH Published August 17, 2022 | 09:15 PM
The French weather service warned Wednesday of new flash flooding risks after fierce rainstorms lashed much of the country overnight, providing a measure of relief for parched landscapes after a summer of record drought
Marseille, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Aug, 2022 ) :The French weather service warned Wednesday of new flash flooding risks after fierce rainstorms lashed much of the country overnight, providing a measure of relief for parched landscapes after a summer of record drought.
Alert levels were announced for 13 departments, including several along the Mediterranean coast and around the southeastern city of Lyon.
Warnings were also issued for Normandy along the English Channel in the northwest, stretching toward the border with Belgium.
Heavy storms dumped two to four centimetres (0.8-1.6 inches) of rain in less than an hour beginning Tuesday evening, with some areas reporting up to seven or nine centimetres.
But with the ground hardened by this summer's extreme heat and drought -- July was the driest month recorded in France since 1961 -- much of the rain could not be absorbed by the soil and instead overflowed into streams and roads.
No injuries were reported, but public transport was disrupted including in Paris, where videos of inundated metro stations swamped social media.
"The storms are making their way east.
.. and can be violent with intense rain that in some places could see up to eight centimetres fall in a short amount of time," the Meteo France weather agency said.
It warned that hail and wind gusts could potentially cause tornado-like conditions.
Areas near Lyon could see hail as large as three centimetres in diameter, it said, though rainfall could be limited because the storms are moving rapidly.
Authorities urged people to postpone travel plans if possible, and to avoid waterways or trying to seek shelter under trees.
"Just 30 centimetres of water is enough to sweep away a car," the prefecture of the Var department on the French Riviera said.
The rain was nonetheless a help for firefighters who have been battling a string of wildfires across France, in particular in the southwest, with major blazes now contained after burning thousands of hectares.
The largest, near Landiras south of Bordeaux, blackened 7,400 hectares (18,300 acres) after it re-ignited this month, having already burned 14,000 hectares of land in July.
jnd-iw/js/tgb/rox/spm
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 26 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 26 April 2024
ICC Womens T20 World Cup Qualifier, Match 2: Ireland Women open with Comfortable ..
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
More Stories From World
-
Microsoft, Google earnings shine as AI drives revenue
2 minutes ago -
Man City crush Brighton to close gap on Arsenal in title race
2 minutes ago -
Atletico face Bilbao challenge in Champions League race
12 minutes ago -
Man City in title groove as Arsenal face Spurs test
12 minutes ago -
Japan anime studio draws on talent of autistic artists
32 minutes ago -
Pakistan needs strong defence in view of its location in 'rough' neighbourhood: Masood Khan
32 minutes ago
-
Bangladesh children sweat at home as heatwave shuts schools
42 minutes ago -
Iconic shared Olympic gold moment will not be repeated, says Barshim
42 minutes ago -
Bangladesh children sweat at home as heatwave shuts schools
1 hour ago -
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leave after 20 years of ..
2 hours ago -
Golf: PGA Zurich Classic of New Orleans scores
2 hours ago -
Slot 'confident' of Liverpool job as 'negotiations' take place
8 hours ago