Three Western French Departments Remain on Flood‑Watch After Record‑Breaking Floods, Météo‑France Says
Date: Thursday (source: Météo‑France)
Summary
- The departments of Loire‑Atlantique, Maine‑et‑Loire, and Charente‑Maritime stay under flood‑alert despite a gradual recession of the Charente River.
- A total of 294 municipalities will be officially declared in a state of natural disaster following the exceptional flood episode that hit western France in February.
Details
| Department | Current Situation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Loire‑Atlantique | Still on alert | Flood levels remain high in the lower Loire basin. |
| Maine‑et‑Loire | Still on alert | Significant overflows continue in the Maine watershed. |
| Charente‑Maritime | Still on alert, but water levels are slowly receding | The Charente River’s flow is decreasing thanks to dry weather expected to persist in the coming days. |
Vigicrues, the French flood‑monitoring agency, reports: “Significant overflows are still ongoing on the downstream Charente, as well as on the Maine basin and the lower Loire.”
A slow decline in water levels is now underway across these rivers, aided by dry conditions that are forecast to continue over the next few days, according to the same source.
Government Announcement
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed that 294 communes will be recognized as being in a state of natural disaster after the severe floods that swept the country. The breakdown is as follows:
- 63 communes in Lot‑et‑Garonne
- 77 communes in Maine‑et‑Loire
- 91 communes in Gironde
Record Rainfall Streak Ends
The historic streak of rainy days across France—40 consecutive days—came to an end last Monday. This period set a new record for the length of a red flood‑watch warning, which lasted 14 days, according to Vigicrues.
Keywords: flood alert, western France, Loire‑Atlantique, Maine‑et‑Loire, Charente‑Maritime, natural disaster declaration, Vigicrues, record rainfall, Sébastien Lecornu, French flood monitoring.
