Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: AMEER ALHALBI / ANADOLU / ANADOLU VIA AFP 11:11 a.m., February 7, 2024

While the department has already been affected by several episodes of flooding, last November and January, Pas-de-Calais was placed on orange "rain-flood" alert this Wednesday, due to bad weather which is coming fell on already saturated soils.

Already affected by several episodes of flooding since November, Pas-de-Calais was placed on orange "rain-flood" alert on Wednesday, due to bad weather hitting already saturated soils. This level of vigilance, in effect since 10:00 a.m., must end at 4:00 p.m., but further rain is expected on Thursday, which could require a new change to orange, warns Météo France.

“The persistent nature of this rainy episode of usual intensity for the season is linked to the repetition over several days of significant precipitation, on already saturated soils,” explains the meteorologist.

Nearly 10,000 homes damaged

The department was affected by several weeks of trying floods: unprecedented rains fell in November, almost three times normal, leading to three weeks of flooding, then new floods in January when it started to rain again. Across Pas-de-Calais, some 6,500 homes were damaged in November and 2,800 in January, the prefecture said. Nearly 300 requests for temporary rehousing have been submitted.

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Rainfall accumulations expected on Wednesday should be between 20 and 30 mm, but could reach up to 50 mm in places. “After an attenuation on Wednesday at the end of the day, the resumption of rains on Thursday risks requiring a new switch to orange vigilance for the rain-flood parameter”, details Météo France. “Uncertainties still remain about the expected maximum intensities and their location.”

According to a press release from the prefect of the Northern defense and security zone, "significant flooding is possible in areas usually subject to flooding", as well as "unusual flooding of streams and ditches" locally. “Road traffic conditions may be difficult across the entire secondary network and some disruptions may affect rail transport,” it is specified in the press release.