A few days after flooding linked to storm Ciaran, the Pas-de-Calais department was placed on red flood alert on Monday at 4 p.m. due to an “exceptional flood” expected on the coastal river Aa, Météo- France and Vigicrues.
The Aa is affected at Saint-Omer by an “exceptional flood that could exceed the historic flood of 2002”, explains Vigicrues. The red alert applies until Tuesday evening. Despite the “slight lull” which is expected during the afternoon, rain will fall again in the evening of Monday, accentuating the rise in Aa levels already underway.
“Damaging excesses in progress”
In addition to the risk of exceeding the safety limit of the Blendecques embankment system, Vigicrues insists on the attention that must be paid “to the dykes of the Haute Meldyck in the crossing of St Omer”.
The organization notes “damaging overflows in progress” and the scope of which is expected to extend, with the flood expected to spread downstream to Wizernes. At this location, “widespread overflows are expected during the night from Monday to Tuesday”, warns Vigicrues, with a peak “this Monday evening around 2.10 m to 2.50 m”.