Don't put away your umbrella, we're not out of the woods yet. While torrential rain has already lashed Paris on Monday, completely flooding Line 14 at Porte de Clichy in the process, Météo France is announcing a new threat from midnight on Tuesday night. After a yellow vigilance on Tuesday, this Wednesday, October 9, 2024, France will suffer the effects of ex-hurricane Kirk, now transformed into a powerful depression.
Météo France has announced that 30 départements, including Paris and the entire Île-de-France region, have been placed under orange vigilance for rain and flooding. Other departments are also concerned, but for violent winds. The rainfall amounts expected are of particular concern, especially in the Paris basin, where accumulations could reach between 40 and 60 mm over the course of the day.
What sets this weather episode apart is the persistent rainfall which, according to Météo France, will affect a wide band stretching from Pays de la Loire toÎle-de-France. In particular, up to 80 mm of precipitation is expected in some western areas, with local peaks of up to 90 mm.
Météo-France has placed 23 départements under "rain-flood" vigilance this Wednesday. The areas concerned include : Aisne, Ardennes, Aube, Eure-et-Loir, Indre-et-Loire, Loir-et-Cher, Loire-Atlantique, Loiret, Maine-et-Loire, Marne, Mayenne, Oise, Sarthe, Paris, Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Deux-Sèvres, Vendée, Essonne, Hauts-de-Seine, Seine-Saint-Denis, Val-de-Marne and Val-d'Oise.
At the same time, five departments have been placed on flood alert: Haute-Saône, Saône-et-Loire, Seine-et-Marne, Vendée and Vosges. In addition, the Loire, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées and Rhône departments have been placed on "vigilance orange" due to the risk of high winds.
According to Météo-France, southerly winds are set to strengthen over the western Pyrenees on Wednesday, with gusts of up to 120-150 km/h on the peaks and 100-110 km/h in the valleys and lowlands. At the end of the day, the passage of the Kirk low will cause a sudden shift in winds to the west, with gusts approaching 100 km/h. In the Loire and Rhône départements, gusts of 100 to 110 km/h are expected, particularly in the Gier valley and southeast of the Lyon conurbation.
In view of these forecasts, it is advisable to follow the authorities' advice to exercise caution, particularly with regard to travel and outdoor activities. The risks are all the greater in that Kirk brings the equivalent of several weeks' rain in a single day, putting a strain on urban and rural drainage systems. The departments concerned will have to be particularly vigilant, especially in flood-prone areas. As a result, disruptions are likely to occur in Paris and Ile-de-France metros and stations.
In addition to the rain, wind gusts will also be something to watch out for, especially in the south-west, where they could reach dangerous speeds. In the Île-de-France region, however, meteorologists will be paying particular attention to sustained precipitation, given its potential to cause flash floods.
So, although Storm Kirk has lost its hurricane status, it continues to pose a serious threat to the French regions it crosses. Paris, like other departments in the Paris region such as Yvelines, Seine-Saint-Denis and Hauts-de-Seine, will have to prepare for a difficult weather episode, marked by heavy rain and the risk of flooding.
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