Orange alert for storms in the Var: the prefect calls for caution

The prefect of Var, Simon Babre, calls on residents of the department to "avoid travel" on Thursday August 20, while Var, like four departments in the south-east of France, is placed on orange alert for storms. Simon Babre assures franceinfo to expect "rainfall which could reach 50 mm in one hour" and "up to 120 mm over two to three hours". He calls for “particular vigilance”.

The Var is coming out of two long heatwave phases: 22 days in July and 19 days in August. The prefect fears flooding and a "runoff phenomenon", because the ground, particularly dry, will not be able to absorb the water. “We are going to be in a period of cumulative risks with these Mediterranean episodes which arrive at the end of summer and which require very particular vigilance.”

“Vegetation will no longer play the role of shock absorber”

Especially since the department was hit by major fires, particularly in the Gros Bessillon massif. The fire, which started on July 21 and which is now officially extinguished, covered 6,300 hectares and burned 5,700 hectares in the municipalities of Pontevès, Correns, Cotignac, Carcès, Montfort-sur-Argens, Châteauvert and Barjols. “Vegetation will no longer play the role of shock absorber,” warns Simon Babre.

The prefect calls on the inhabitants of Var to "keep very informed of the weather conditions" and to "avoid travel", but also "burning areas" until Friday at midday.