Strong Winds: 21 Departments Placed on Orange Alert Starting Sunday Evening

The Floriane depression, expected to bring gusts locally reaching 110 to 120 km/h, has prompted Météo-France to issue warnings. As of this Sunday, January 5, at 8 PM, the departments of Loire and Rhône will be the first placed under an orange alert for strong winds. Starting at midnight, 19 additional departments, stretching from Vendée to Meuse and including Île-de-France, will join the alert. This warning will remain in effect until Monday at 4 PM.

Two Peaks of Strong Winds Expected

According to Météo-France, a disturbance moving inland from the Atlantic coast will cause a gradual strengthening of winds on Sunday. The most affected areas include the Rhône Valley and the southern parts of the impacted departments. The institute predicts two significant peaks of strong winds: the first during the night from Sunday to Monday, and the second late Monday morning. Gusts could exceed 120 km/h in some locations.

Poitou-Moselle Corridor Also Under Watch

Meteorologists are also monitoring a corridor stretching from the Poitou region to Moselle, where strong winds may disrupt activities throughout Monday.

End of Snow and Ice Alert, With a Tragic Toll

On Sunday morning, Météo-France lifted the orange snow-and-ice alert that had been in effect for around 30 departments. This wintry episode, marked by freezing rain in the northeast, claimed at least one life: a 20-year-old man was killed in an accident on the A6 motorway in Côte-d’Or.

Increased Vigilance Amid Challenging Weather Conditions

As the country braces for the impacts of the Floriane depression, authorities are urging caution. The combination of strong winds and unstable weather could disrupt travel and cause damage in the affected regions.