French flood alert system working at record pace, chief says

"The flood alert system in France has been working at a record pace as relentless rain over the past month has saturated soils, the head of the agency told AFP on Saturday. "For 30 days we have been in continuous orange or red alert somewhere on the national territory," Lucie Chadourne-Facon, director of Vigicrues, told AFP, referring to the two highest alert levels. "That is 81 departments in alert simultaneously for 154 rivers, so we have exceeded all our records," she said."

"Chadourne-Facon said soil moisture had also reached a record since data collection began in 1959. "We are facing a generalised flood situation across the entire country because all the soils are saturated everywhere" and have "lost their infiltration capacity," she said. "As a result, today rivers are extremely sensitive to the slightest precipitation, the slightest rainfall that hits the country, and they react very quickly," she added."

The flood alert system in France has been operating at a record pace as relentless rainfall over the past month saturated soils across the country. Vigicrues reported 30 consecutive days in continuous orange or red alert somewhere on national territory. Eighty-one departments were simultaneously in alert for 154 rivers, exceeding historical records. Soil moisture reached a record high since measurements began in 1959. Soils are saturated nationwide and have lost infiltration capacity. Rivers now respond rapidly to even small amounts of precipitation, increasing flood sensitivity and requiring heightened monitoring and preparedness.

Read at The Local France