France: From Sunshine to Storm – Get Ready for Olivier!
Okay, so picture this: France, basking in glorious sunshine all week. Temperatures hitting a comfy 18 to 22°C, even reaching a balmy 26°C in the south. Honestly, who saw that coming after the chilly start to spring? Météo France was reporting mostly clear skies – idyllic, right?
The Unexpected Twist
But then… things changed. This blissful weather wasn't destined to last. Starting Friday, April 11th, 2025, a weather disturbance began brewing near the Canary Islands – and it's headed straight for us. Storm Olivier, they're calling it. It’s already caused some pretty heavy downpours in the Canaries, and now it's taking aim at southern Portugal before making its way to France.
The Weekend Washout
Saturday, April 12th, 2025? Forget the picnic plans. Expect increasing cloud cover and some seriously unstable weather along the Atlantic coast. Afternoon rain and scattered thunderstorms are expected – from Bordeaux to Orléans, potentially even reaching Paris by evening. Sunday, April 13th, 2025 isn't looking much better. The bad weather’s shifting eastward, targeting the Massif Central, Occitanie, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and the Alpes-Maritimes. We're talking heavy rainfall, especially in the mountains. They're predicting accumulations of 100 to 150 mm over just two days!
Meteorologist Paul Marquis and his team are warning about the very real risk of landslides and flooding. With all that snowmelt and heavy rain at all altitudes, you can see why they're concerned. It kinda felt like watching a slow-motion trainwreck, knowing this was coming.
High Winds and Lingering Issues
Storm Olivier is going to create a low-pressure system across France, bringing with it showers, thunderstorms, and strong winds. The Autan wind is expected to return with gusts potentially hitting 90 km/h in the southwest. Even into Monday, April 14th, 2025, the Mediterranean region is still expected to feel the effects.
Time to Prepare!
So, what does this all mean? Basically, if you're in southeastern France, it's time to batten down the hatches. Be prepared for some serious rainfall and the potential for flooding, strong winds, and general disruption to your daily routine. This rapid change in weather conditions means we all need to be prepared.
Stay safe, everyone!
