Gauthier Delomez 2:21 p.m., September 09, 2021

Rains of unprecedented magnitude fell in Agen overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, causing flooding.

Fortunately, no casualties are to be deplored, but the episode surprised the inhabitants.

In "Europe Midi", Météo France forecaster Patrick Galois announces new thunderstorms in the region.

Unheard of in a few hours.

In one evening, the equivalent of two months of rain fell on the town of Agen, in Lot-et-Garonne, causing flooding in part of the town.

Fortunately there were no casualties, but residents say they have never seen so much precipitation fall with such violence, in such a short time.

On Europe 1, Météo France forecaster Patrick Galois expects new bad weather in the region and in particular in the four departments placed in orange vigilance for thunderstorms (Ariège, Haute-Garonne, Gers and Tarn-et-Garonne). 

READ ALSO

- "I've never seen that": in Agen, the inhabitants surprised by the torrential rains

These intense rains are first of all a rare phenomenon for the city of Agen.

"It fell in just three hours 130 mm of water, that is to say 130 liters of water per square meter. It is two months of usual rains at this time of the year which fell in within three hours and it's completely new, ”explains Patrick Galois.

"We had never seen that since the previous record for rainfall in 24 hours was 'only' 82 mm," he said.

New thunderstorms expected in the southwest

And the situation should not calm down in the coming hours.

"The conditions are favorable to the development of thunderstorms because we still have relatively warm air over France. On this hot air, cold and unstable air at altitude will arrive, favoring thunderstorms. They should develop on Thursday. afternoon everywhere, especially in the southwest and in the four departments in vigilance, "he said at the microphone of Romain Desarbres.

>> Find Europe Midi in replay and podcast here

Significant amounts of rainfall are expected in these areas but they should be less, between 60 and 80 mm in a few hours according to Patrick Galois.

"It's the equivalent of what he usually falls in a month this season," he said.

The heat is expected to persist after a disappointing summer

Moreover, the heat should settle in during the month after a disappointing summer in France.

"The month of August was certainly cool and not sunny enough. But since the beginning of September, we have started again on other bases. We have a 3 degree temperature excess across the country, with peaks of more than 30 degrees in quite a few regions, ”remarks the forecaster from Météo France.

"This tendency towards softness, if not the heat, should persist for the coming week", positive Patrick Galois. September is expected to be warmer than normal, but the weather is shaping up to be changeable. "Periods of good weather will alternate with sometimes marked deterioration, like what we are currently experiencing. But temperatures will remain at a good level for the end of summer," reassures Patrick Galois in

Europe Midi

.