Storm in France. Photo: Shutterstock France is facing a significant episode of severe summer weather on Thursday, August 27, with Météo-France warning of potentially violent thunderstorms across several parts of the country and the possibility of further orange alerts being issued.
A national vigilance bulletin published at 2 pm Paris time reported new developments, including an orange heatwave alert for Corsica and orange thunderstorm alerts for Corrèze and Creuse, which were issued earlier in the afternoon.
The latest forecast calls for two major areas of storm activity to develop across France, while very warm air moves into Corsica.
The first and potentially most intense storm system is forecast to develop from the Massif Central towards Burgundy and the Vosges Mountains.
Thunderstorms are already developing between Cantal and Puy-de-Dôme, although they had not yet reached severe levels at the time of the bulletin. Other storms that formed in the area earlier in the day were moving towards Burgundy, with locally heavy rainfall.
Storm in France. Phoro: ShutterstockThe storm activity is expected to intensify through Thursday afternoon and evening across Auvergne and the Grand Est, before developing into a broader band of rain and thunderstorms.
Late Thursday night into Friday, the storm front is expected to move from Auvergne towards the Rhône-Saône axis and the Jura Mountains, with additional departments potentially placed under orange thunderstorm vigilance.
The authorities warned that the thunderstorms could produce a range of dangerous weather conditions.
In departments under orange storm warnings, medium to large hail of 2 to 5 centimeters or more is possible. Hourly rainfall totals could reach 30 millimeters or more, while wind gusts could reach 80 to 100 km/h.
In the Auvergne to Burgundy area, gusts could locally reach 110 km/h or higher .
The strongest storms could also generate tornadoes, particularly around Auvergne, Burgundy and the Vosges, although the possibility cannot be completely excluded elsewhere.
Intense lightning activity is another major hazard expected during the storm episode.
A separate area of thunderstorms is forecast to develop across northwestern France on Thursday afternoon and evening.
The storms will move from Pays de la Loire and Normandy towards Île-de-France and Hauts-de-France, bringing the potential for heavy rain, hail, strong winds and frequent lightning.
This follows the orange storm warning already issued across the Île-de-France region, where all departments have been placed under orange vigilance.
While much of mainland France faces storm activity, Corsica is experiencing a different weather threat.
An orange heatwave alert has been issued for the island as a very warm air mass moves into the region. The situation is expected to be accompanied by a Sirocco wind effect, bringing particularly hot conditions.
Météo-France warned that the orange thunderstorm alert could be extended to additional departments bordering those already under warning.
As the storm front progresses from Auvergne towards eastern Auvergne, the Rhône-Saône corridor and the Jura Mountains late Thursday night and into Friday, more departments could also be placed under orange vigilance.
Residents and travelers across affected areas are therefore being advised to follow the next national vigilance bulletins closely as the situation develops.