France has placed three departments in western France on red alert as Storm Ciaran is expected to hit the country's northwest on Wednesday evening and warned residents in the departments concerned to avoid any travel overnight.
The meteorological service has placed the departments of Finistère, Côtes d’Armor and Manche on “red alert” for violent winds ranging from 100-120 km/h. Winds of up to 130-150 km/h on the coasts of Finistère and Morbihan were expected in the evening.
The storm will be accompanied by heavy precipitation, with 30-50 millimeters of rain expected over six hours in Finistère, Morbihan and Côte d’Armor, which have been placed on orange alert for possible flooding.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin called Tuesday on residents in the departments concerned to avoid any travel overnight from Wednesday to Thursday.
Rail traffic will also be interrupted on Thursday on all TER lines in the Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Normandy and Center Val de Loire regions, as well as in Hauts-de-France, rail company SNCF announced.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
