The “very strong autumn storm” Ciaran will hit the large north-western quarter of France from Wednesday evening. Three departments are on red alert, the maximum alert level from Météo-France – Finistère, Côtes-d’Armor and Manche.
The first two are also placed on orange alert for “rain-flood” and “waves-submersion”. The Channel has turned orange for “waves-submersion”.
A total of seventeen departments will be placed on orange alert for waves-submersion, wind or rain-flooding, adds Météo-France. These departments are located in an area stretching from Gironde to Hauts de France, via Brittany and Normandy.
There are therefore three dangers from Storm Ciaran: winds, waves and floods.
Winds up to 170 km/h
“On the coast of Finistère, Côtes-d’Armor and Cotentin, peaks of 150 to 170 km/h could be recorded,” warned Météo-France. Further down, Morbihan and Loire-Atlantique, it should also blow around 130 km/h.
From Wednesday evening, it will be strongly discouraged to walk on the affected coastlines. Moreover, the Ministry of the Interior has extended the advice to all departments hit by the orange alert for violent winds. Falling tree branches or tiles, for example, are particularly feared.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that 3,200 firefighters will be mobilized in the four Breton departments (Côtes-d’Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine, Finistère and Morbihan) as well as in Manche and Loire-Atlantique.
Eight meter waves
Météo-France also warns that the storm will cause a “remarkable wave-submersion phenomenon. The breaking of large and powerful waves, associated with relatively high sea levels, requires particular vigilance.”
These submersion waves, which could reach 8 to 10 meters depending on the sector, recalled the Maritime Prefecture.
In addition to the authorities’ recommendations for caution, professionals and individuals alike are striving to protect their property and equipment as best they can.
The Atlantic maritime prefecture, whose jurisdiction extends from Mont Saint-Michel to the Spanish border, has prepositioned the powerful tugboat “Abeille Bourbon” in Ouessant to intervene in the event of difficulties encountered by ships, particularly in the Ouessant maritime rail highway.
Flooding and train cancellations expected
In addition to the winds, Météo-France, in its latest bulletin Wednesday at 10 a.m., is concerned about a “rainy episode giving significant amounts of precipitation in a short time on already saturated soils. » The consequences of these probable floods are numerous, including power cuts.
Many transports will also be disrupted. The SNCF announced the suspension in the north-west (Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Normandy and Centre-Val-de-Loire, as well as in Hauts-de-France) of all TER and part of the TGV until Friday morning.
Eurostar recommends that travelers who can do so postpone their trip to Thursday, particularly for those with connections. The company anticipates delays due to speed restrictions.
Brest Bretagne airport will be closed from Wednesday 5 p.m. to Thursday 9:30 a.m. The one in Quimper closed on Wednesday morning for 24 hours. Boat connections with the islands will be very disrupted, if not completely suspended.