Stormy Skies Over France This September 4
Today’s weather picture across France is anything but calm. This Thursday, September 4, the atmosphere has been dominated by strong instability, and thunderstorms have been developing over large parts of the country. Early in the morning, weaker storms were already moving from the southwest toward the east. But as the hours went by, the situation escalated.
By midday, activity intensified particularly in the southeast of the Massif Central, then spread toward Rhône-Alpes and the Jura. Hailstones measuring two to four centimeters in diameter were reported, accompanied by torrential rainfall and violent wind gusts reaching up to 100 kilometers per hour. In some areas, rainfall totals quickly climbed to 40 or even 50 millimeters within a short span of time. That rapid accumulation has increased the risk of sudden flooding and dangerous runoff in vulnerable zones.
Also Read:Further north and west, storms have been less intense but still brought bursts of heavy rain and gusty winds. According to the official alert map this morning, Ardèche, Drôme, and Isère were placed under orange vigilance for severe thunderstorms, while several neighboring departments remained on yellow alert for both storms and potential flooding. This wide-reaching watch extended across much of France, including regions from the Atlantic coast all the way to the northeast.
The situation overseas has also been monitored carefully. In the Atlantic basin, a disturbance located far out at sea has a 40 percent chance of strengthening within the next 48 hours, and an 80 percent chance within a week. If it continues to develop, it could affect the Lesser Antilles by the middle of next week. Meanwhile, in the southwest Indian Ocean near Réunion, no cyclonic threats are anticipated for now.
Looking ahead, an improvement is expected as the weekend approaches. A small anticyclonic system is forecast to rebuild over France beginning Friday. This will bring calmer conditions, alternating between cloudy spells and bright intervals. Sunshine should dominate along the Mediterranean coastline, while skies will remain somewhat unsettled near the English Channel, where light showers cannot be ruled out. By Saturday, temperatures are set to rise slightly, though another stormy spell may return from the west on Sunday afternoon.
As for yesterday’s weather, it left its mark. Heavy rainfall was measured across Normandy and Brittany, with Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue recording more than 38 millimeters. Strong winds also swept across northwestern France and beyond, with gusts exceeding 110 kilometers per hour along the Atlantic seaboard and even reaching 107 kilometers per hour on the Eiffel Tower in Paris. These figures highlight how widespread and powerful the recent disturbances have been.
So, to sum up: today has been a stormy and at times dangerous day across France, with hail, heavy rain, and violent winds reported. But some relief is on the horizon, as a return to calmer and brighter weather is expected before the weekend—though the next round of unsettled skies is already on the way.
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