Paris, Aug 17: Just two days after seeing off a heatwave that killed up to 3,000 people, France was today bracing for another assault from the weather, this time in the form of storms, hail and violent winds. Meteo-France, the state weather forecasting agency, issued its second-highest alert across the south and east of the country, warning of gusts of up to 120 kilometres per hour, heavy rain and lightning up to late on Monday.

Motorists in those areas, and in Paris, were also warned that the winds could make driving dangerous. In Larzac, in southwest France, authorities passed on the alert to 40,000 music fans attending an outdoor techno festival.

Residents in the affected areas were told to avoid walking in forests or on mountains, to secure items that might be swept away by the wind and to avoid using the telephone or other electronic gear. The storms are expected on the heels of a two-week heatwave that receded on Friday after causing up to an estimated 3,000 deaths, mostly among elderly people unable to cope with temperatures of 40 degrees celsius (104 fahrenheit) and more.

Bureau Report