Heavy rains flood roads in southern France as orange weather alerts issued

Severe weather across France intensified Sunday, turning roads in the southern Camargue region into rivers and prompting an orange alert for thunderstorms and widespread flooding across parts of the country, including Paris and the Île-de-France region.

Meteo-France warned that rainfall in Provence and the Alpes could reach 70 to 90 millimeters, with some areas seeing up to 120 millimeters in just a few hours. Forecasters also warned of hail, strong electrical activity and violent gusts near the coast as the system moves through the southeast. The storm is being driven by a powerful Atlantic high-level current crossing France from Brittany, which could keep numerous thunderstorms active through Monday morning in Brittany and bring 60 to 80 millimeters of rain overnight in some places. Gusts of wind ranging from 50 to 70 kilometers per hour were expected to affect Channel-coast areas.

In the Camargue and other southern districts, dramatic video footage showed streets flooded with ankle-deep water after heavy rainfall. Officials urged residents to avoid travel where possible as the intensity and the expected cumulative rainfall raise the risk of floods and related disruptions. Across the country, temperatures were forecast to range from 12 to 17 degrees Celsius in the northeast, climbing to 21 to 26 degrees near the Mediterranean.

The weather has already disrupted public life. In Marseille, Paris Saint‑Germain's Ligue 1 match with Olympique de Marseille was postponed by one day due to the dangerous conditions in the Bouches-du-Rhône region. OM said the prefecture cited security concerns and that the match would be rescheduled for Monday, September 22 at 8 p.m. at the Orange Velodrome, with tickets for tonight’s game valid for the rearranged kickoff. The postponement underscored how the storm’s reach extended beyond weather maps to affect sport and daily routines across the region.

Forecasters warned that gusts along the Channel could reach 50 to 70 kilometers per hour and that numerous thunderstorms could continue into Monday. The broader weather picture in France comes after a spell of severe weather in Spain, where authorities report 100-kilometer-per-hour winds, flash floods and chaotic scenes in several regions.

In Spain’s Murcia region, Caravaca de la Cruz — a major pilgrimage site — was hit by golf-ball-sized hail that struck cars as floodwaters surged through streets. Local reports said up to 20 residents were evacuated and spent the night in a municipal sports pavilion. The hail formed into heavy, ice-like masses before melting, while fast-flowing water inundated homes and businesses and left roads slick with debris. Cafés and shops were shuttered as residents sought shelter and utilities teams worked to restore services. The sequence illustrated how the Atlantic front that spurred the French storm was already affecting neighboring countries and shaping a broader, highly unsettled pattern across southern Europe.

As authorities monitor the evolving system, meteorologists cautioned that conditions could remain unsettled through the early part of next week, with the potential for renewed heavy rain in the south and continued thunderstorms in Brittany. Officials urged residents and travelers to stay informed through official meteorological updates and to heed local advisories, especially as the storm’s cumulative rainfall could intensify the risk of flooding and travel disruption.