Violent winds hit France hard on Friday March 10, with very turbulent weather across the country. Nine departments are placed on orange vigilance for strong winds and for “waves-submersion”according to the Météo-France website.
The departments of Alpes-Maritimes, Aude, Hérault, Pyrénées-Orientales, Var and Corsica (North and South) are placed on orange vigilance for strong winds. On the Breton shores, Côtes-d’Armor and Ille-et-Vilaine are on the alert for “waves-submersion”. This has been lifted for the departments of Finistère and Morbihan.
Of the “exceptionally strong winds”, which led to the cancellation of the sixth stage of Paris-Nice, which was to connect Tourves (Var) to La Colle-sur-Loup (Alpes-Maritimes). The organizers decided to “to preserve the safety of the runners” while the wind has “caused several tree falls in the region” and makes “inevitable the cancellation of the stage”.
? 9 departments in Orange https://t.co/bHjUpInnGJ
The capital’s parks closed
In Paris, although not appearing in the list of departments placed on vigilance, several parks have been closed as a precaution. Anticipating gusts between “60 km/m and 80 km/h” And “punctually 85 km/h”accompanied by “moderate rainy periods”the City of Paris has decided to close its “green spaces, parks, gardens and cemeteries”. The weather service predicts a “very hectic day” for the whole country, with a wind “strong to very strong”.
The City of Paris also recommends avoiding walks in the forest and exercising caution when traveling. The green spaces of the capital must reopen on Saturday morning, “after the usual checks”.
Tornado in the Creuse
The weather remains very choppy with a strong to very strong westerly wind over most of the country. Gusts reach 70 km / h to 90 km / h in general in most regions, even 100 km / h to 110 km / h near the coast.
In Creuse, a tornado, which only lasted a few minutes, did significant damage. Roofs torn off, stone walls destroyed, tiles on the road, uprooted trees… the village of Pontarion, a town of 360 inhabitants south of Guéret, bears the scars of the meteorological episode which affected several surrounding towns at the end of the day. THURSDAY. Some inhabitants deprived of electricity since heat themselves using their stove and light themselves with candles.
About fifty homes were damaged but no casualties were reported and no one had to be relocated to Pontarion, according to the emergency services.