Mickaël Potot / Photo credit: CLEMENT MAHOUDEAU / AFP 8:03 p.m., March 10, 2024

After the passage of storm Monica in the south-east of France, three bodies were found lifeless in Gard this Sunday.

But these particularly violent bad weather conditions are now over.

The rains should stop and no disruption is expected in the Mediterranean immediately.

Three dead and three people still missing.

Here is the - provisional - assessment of the passage of storm Monica in the south-east of the country, particularly in the Gard where more than 300 firefighters, gendarmes and other rescuers are searching with boats, helicopters, drones and dogs for these three people, swept away in trying to drive across bridges over swollen rivers.

It is a father and his two children, aged 4 and 13. 

[#VigilanceOrange] The searches, carried out by the emergency services, continue.



⚠️Provisional assessment:


↪️ 3 bodies discovered lifeless: 2 in Goudargues in a vehicle and 1 in Gagnieres


↪️ emergency and security personnel still engaged.

Please respect the correct…

— Prefect of Gard (@Prefet30) March 10, 2024

If the concern remains high, the inhabitants seem to have finished with the fury of the sky.

The rain will stop falling on the Côte d'Azur for this weekend and even for the days to come.

No disruption is expected in the Mediterranean until at least next weekend. 

Waterlogged soils

However, three departments in the sector (Var, Bouches-du-Rhône and Gard) remain on orange alert for floods until Monday.

A phenomenon far from unusual in this region, but which surprised by its scale.

There has been a lot of precipitation in recent days and the soils are waterlogged. 

8 departments in Orange (https://t.co/CSYEovTI83) pic.twitter.com/KztrkAhgU4

— VigiMétéoFrance (@VigiMeteoFrance) March 10, 2024

For example, in the Var, 182% more rain fell compared to the norms for the month of March.

Caution remains in order, but residents now have little to fear from the sky.