Due to rain and storms in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, Météo France put three departments on orange alert this Friday evening due to the risk of rain and flooding for part of Saturday.
The Ardèche, Loire and Rhône are affected by this warning, which is in effect from midnight until noon Saturday.
“The area of thunderstorms is currently affecting the Massif Central region and will reach the departments placed on orange alert in the coming hours,” Météo France warned.
Strong accumulation is expected
This rain episode is not unusual for this season but requires “special monitoring due to the high intensity of rain and high accumulation expected within 3 to 6 hours”, the organization explained.
At midnight this Friday, a disturbance was placed from “the Cévennes to Lyonnais via Vivarais, Pilat, the south and east of the Rhône department”. This is related “to the high intensity of rainfall, and accompanied by thunderstorms”.
Accumulations were estimated at between 50 and 80 millimeters “in less than twelve hours” in the Lyon area and in the Gier valley. The height can reach 100 or even 120 mm in Mont du Pilat, northern Vivarais and Ardèche Cévenne.
“Episodes of thunderstorms are expected to continue throughout Saturday, shifting towards the Rhône valley, the Alps and the Paca region. It is important to keep abreast of alert developments in these regions,” the meteorological agency added.
