Severe bad weather this Tuesday in the south of France, departments on alert

Météo France predicts a significant risk of submersion in the south of France this Tuesday March 26.

As of Monday March 25, Météo France is warning of a risk of submersion on the Mediterranean coast in the south of the country. The organization has notably placed the department of Hérault on orange alert for "waves-submersion" for this Tuesday, March 26. Météo France explains that increased winds added to the already high sea level are at the origin of this risk of submersion. In its bulletin for this Monday, the meteorological organization indicates: "The breaking of these strong waves, associated with these high sea levels, risks causing submersion by crossing sea waves on exposed areas of the coastline."

Orange vigilance currently only concerns the Hérault department. Météo France declares that the "departments of Aude, Gard and Bouches du Rhône are impacted to a lesser extent by the surges of these strong waves from east to southeast" and are placed on yellow alert only, i.e. a low level of risk. On X, the department prefecture calls for caution "on the coast". She also recalled safety rules: “During the orange phase: do not go to sea, do not get into the water and stop all nautical activities.” The prefecture encourages the public not to go to beaches or “submersible routes”.

In addition to the strong winds announced by Météo France which details: "East to South-East winds strengthen at the end of the night from Monday to Tuesday in the north of the Gulf of Lion", the department is also on yellow alert for " rain-flood". The prefecture indicated  that rainfall accumulations between “30 to 50 mm on average” with peaks of up to 80mm in the plains and “up to 120mm in the Cévennes” are expected. Regarding the wind, the Hérault prefecture specifies that gusts between "90 to 100km/h" are to be expected.