Orange storm warning: Watch out for strong gusts of wind and hail

We expect violent phenomena from 14h including Charente-Maritime. Gusts of high winds of up to 100 km / h and hailstorms will accompany thunderstorms. A call for vigilance is launched especially on the roads.
The Prefecture of Charente-Maritime calls for vigilance from 14 pm and sets up an emergency device in response to the alert launched by Météo France . The weather will affect the entire department of Charente-Maritime.

Thunderstorms arrive from the west

In the afternoon, a virulent stormy degradation will begin on the coast and will quickly spread eastward . These storms are preceded by very hot weather, with maximum temperatures often ranging between 30 and 33 ° C inland.

Thunderstorms will be very sudden and often violent, characterized by:

• strong gusts often reaching 80 to 100 km / h locally up to 130 km / h
• heavy hail, locally greater than 4 cm in diameter
• intense precipitation

Advice to respect in case of storms

The prefecture asks everyone to be very vigilant and reminds some safety instructions, especially on the roads.

• Approaching the storm, shelter but avoiding the wooded areas
• Wherever possible, avoid travel
• In the case of an obligation to travel, inquire about the condition of the road networks.
• Be careful and vi gilant, traffic conditions may suddenly become very dangerous.
• Avoid using telephone and electrical equipment.
• Store or secure objects that are sensitive to the effects of wind or likely to be damaged.
• In a campsite, be sure that there is no danger to you in case of very strong gusts of wind or sudden floods. If in doubt, take refuge in a safer place.
• Report without delay the fire starts that you would witness.
• In a flood-prone area , take all necessary precautions to safeguard the property in the face of rising waters.
• Move away from watercourses, bodies of water or pools.
• Do not park on bridges or other structures such as dikes or levees
• Avoid outdoor recreational activities.
• Stay Away high voltage pylons and cranes. Warning: lightning may fall several times at the same place.