Thunderstorms lash southeastern France, breaking rainfall records after drought

Southeastern France is experiencing severe thunderstorms, bringing heavy rainfall and breaking August precipitation records after an extended period of drought. The storms have primarily affected the Alpes-Maritimes and Var departments.

In the Alpes-Maritimes, approximately 123 millimeters of rain fell in some areas, with Levens recording 132 millimeters. This significantly surpasses the previous record of 59.8 millimeters set in 2023, according to BFMTV. The neighboring Var department saw intense electrical activity, with 1,378 lightning strikes recorded overnight Thursday to Friday. Heavy rainfall also occurred in towns like Draguignan and Seillans, where 75 to 80 millimeters of water fell.

During the peak of the storms, 26,000 homes in the Var department lost electricity. By Friday morning, power had been restored to all but 1,000 households, as reported by the Var prefect. In both departments, which were under a "thunderstorm" alert, most festive and sporting events were canceled, and public parks were closed.

In Pégomas, Alpes-Maritimes, nearly 200 campers were evacuated overnight from a site as a precautionary measure under the Flood Risk Prevention Plan. Marc Combe, the deputy mayor, explained that the evacuation was necessary due to the potential for stationary and intense storms in a valley prone to flash flooding, aiming to prevent a catastrophic evacuation scenario.

The Alpes-Maritimes prefecture urged continued vigilance, warning that storms could persist into the morning before subsiding. They cautioned about the possibility of rapid floods, particularly in the upper and middle Var regions and their tributaries. Despite numerous lightning strikes, including one that hit a power line in Cannes, no injuries were reported, and no "major damage" had been noted by late Friday morning. Public spaces like Nice's parks and gardens began reopening later that day.

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Les passages orageux en cours pourront durer cette matinée avant de s’atténuer en milieu de journée. Des crues rapides peuvent survenir en matinée ou en début d’après-midi en fonction de la localisation des pluies, notamment sur le Var amont, le Var moyen et leurs affluents.