Violent storms forecast in France with 5 départements on alert

Paris, Jul 11 (Prensa Latina) Five départements in eastern France were placed on red alert - the highest warning level - on Tuesday with violent storms forecast. Huge parts of the country were also on Orange alert as trains were suspended and parks closed. The public were warned to be vigilant and avoid travelling.

July 11, 2023
14:58

On Tuesday afternoon France’s national weather operator, Météo France, had placed many départements primarily located in the east on the “orange” weather alert for storms.

Later on Tuesday that alert level was raised to red – the highest – in five départements in the east of the country. Those départements were Haute-Saône, Doubs, Jura, Territoire de Belfort and Haut-Rhin.

Violent thunderstorms, with hail, heavy rainfall and localised wind gusts of up to 130km per hour were forecast to hit on Tuesday evening.

According to Météo France, stormy weather may continue into Wednesday morning in the south-east, but forecasters predict that it will begin to abate in the rest of the country throughout the day.

In response, several cities such as Lyon, Strasbourg and Nancy have announced that public parks would close early in anticipation of the storms.

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