New storm to hit waterlogged western France

Gales of up to 140 km/h, coastal waves of up to nine metres, and significant further rainfall will hit France today (February 18) and tomorrow, bringing renewed weather warnings to western areas. 

The Atlantic disturbance - dubbed Storm Pedro - will sweep across much of the western coast from this afternoon, before heading inland across the south-west. 

The arrival of the new conditions while France is still reeling from the passage of historic Storm Nils last week means no respite is in sight for much of the west and south-west.

A person has been declared missing in the Maine-et-Loire (on a red alert for river flooding), and the Minister for Ecological Transition said the death toll from weather conditions in the last few days has now reached three. 

More than 9,000 homes in the Dordogne are without drinking water due to the recent weather conditions, and around 20 roads throughout the department remain closed due to flooding.

The new storm is set to bring up to 30mm of rain to Brittany and 50mm to parts of the south-west, risking further flooding where soils are already saturated with water from recent historic rainfall. 

As of the 06:00 bulletin from state forecaster Météo France, four departments remain on a tier-four red alert for river flooding: Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne (Garonne river), Maine-et-Loire (Maine, Loir, Sarthe, and Mayenne rivers), and Charente-Maritime (Charente river). 

Finistère and Morbihan in Brittany face heightened tier-three orange alerts from flash flooding due to the heavy rainfall.

Residents in these departments are advised to follow safety advice and keep up to date with local information. 

This includes avoiding roads and paths susceptible to flooding (riverbanks, bridges, etc), and staying out of basements that may be flooded. 

In areas where Storm Pedro will bring strong gales, tying down outside furniture and parking vehicles away from trees that may be uprooted is also advised.

Thousands of residents in the south-west have been evacuated due to flooding, and in Angers roads near the banks of the Maine were intentionally flooded to reduce the risk of the river breaking banks elsewhere.

With Storm Pedro continuing to impact the Atlantic coast overnight, alerts are likely to increase on Thursday. 

Early forecasts show several coastal departments at heightened risk of coastal flooding and strong waves tomorrow.

Persistent winds of 100 km/h or more are expected across the south-west following Storm Pedro’s arrival. 

As it makes its way inland, powerful gales of potentially 140 km/h are expected around Perpignan and the eastern Pyrénées overnight on Wednesday and remaining into Thursday. 

Strong winds of up to 90 km/h will reach as far as the Italian border. 

At the same time, snow is forecast in much of the north and east today, as winds clash with precipitation. 

Around 5cm is expected in lowland areas of Lorraine, although it is thought unlikely to settle. 

In the Alps, Pyrénées, and Massif Central however, between 10cm - 40cm of snow could settle with more at the highest peaks.