Many areas remain on high alert for flooding in north and west france

RECORD LEVELS OF RAINFALL HAVE BEEN REGISTERED ACROSS THE COUNTRY OVER THE PAST 30 DAYS Two departments are still on heightened alert and 30 on alert for flooding in the north, east and west

of France. It is expected that the alerts will subside as more settled weather sets in over the coming week. The departments on heightened alert are Pas-de-Calais and Charente-Maritime.

> #VigilanceOrange #Pluieinondation sur le Pas-de-Calais pour un > début d'évènement à 9h. >  > 💧 Pluies temporairement soutenues, 10 à 20 mm en trois heures, > dans un 

contexte d'extrême saturation des sols et d'inondations > récentes >  > ⚠️Restez informés https://t.co/SBcDaJ3wuk > https://t.co/CTeoYqTokx > — Météo-France 

(@meteofrance) November 20, 2023 In Pas-de-Calais, the town of Saint-Omer is still affected by flooding, as is Saintes in Charente-Maritime. > #inondations à #Saintes : 5,40m 

aujourd'hui selon Vigicrue. L'arc > dit de Germanicus bientôt les pieds dans l'eau ? > pic.twitter.com/cF1dasiGtQ > — Romain Charrier (@Ro_Charrier) November 12, 2023

Both towns have been affected by flooding since November 1 and the water levels have been very slow to fall. Pas-de-Calais will see more rain today (November 20), however, the flood waters

are expected to continue to drain. The department’s state of heightened alert should be lifted by Tuesday November 21. You can learn more about the dangers of flooding in your area on the

government’s flood monitoring VIGICRUES WEBSITE. ‘RECORD BREAKING WET WEATHER’ Between October 18 and November 16, Météo France recorded an record average precipitation of 237.3mm over the

country. > 💧Entre le 18 octobre et le 16 novembre , la France a enregistré > un cumul moyen de 237,3 mm. >  > C’est la première fois que la France enregistre un tel cumul sur

> 30 jours consécutifs toutes saisons confondues. >  > 🔗 https://t.co/ZCW8Wy7ZCH pic.twitter.com/BNzgrJISPI > — Météo-France (@meteofrance) November 17, 2023 “This is the most

rain that France has ever recorded in over 30 days in any season,” Météo France announced on November 18. The previous record was 187.1mm between January 13 and February 11, 1988. Météo

France explains this period of wet and mild weather by the influence of the Atlantic jet stream, which has been directed towards France. However, more settled weather is forecast this week,

with less rain, and the seasonal Mistral north-westerly wind growing stronger over several days down the Rhone valley. READ MORE: WHAT TO DO (AND NOT DO) DURING HEAVY RAIN AND FLOOD ALERTS

IN FRANCE SEA BIRDS BLOWN OFF COURSE AND INTO SOUTH WEST FRANCE BY STORM