France – Evacuations After Storms and Floods in Brittany

A storm that hit Brittany, France, during the night from Sunday 03 June to Monday 04 June, 2018, has caused severe flooding in the department of Finistère. The departments of Côtes-d’Armor and Ille-et-Vilaine were also badly affected.

Local fire and emergency crews were called out to over 450 interventions during the storm, with over half of them in the town of Morlaix, Finistère, where some homes have been evacuated.

Photos and videos on Social Media showed flood water raging through the streets of Morlaix. Stéven Tual, meteorologist for Meteo Bretagne, said that around a month’s worth of rain fell in less than an hour. Meteo Bretagne said Morlaix received 52 mm of rain and 70 mm in Monts d’Arrée.

The Jarlot river that runs through Morlaix jumped from 0.82 metres at 06:00 on 03 June, to 2.0 metres by 18:00 the same day. This is the highest ever level, beating previous highs of 1.96 metres on 06 February 2014 and 1.93 metres on 12 December 2000.

Jarlot river at Morlaix , June 2018. Image: Vigicrues

Vigicrues, the flood information service provided by France’s environment ministry, said the storms had generated more rainfall than expected and that watercourses in the area are likely to increase.

Meteo France have forecast more heavy rain for Monday. As of 04 June, 2018, there were 16 departments on Orange Alert for storms in both north west and north east France.

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Flood Summary

Last updated: July 11, 2018
Event
Brittany and Normandy, France, June 2018
Date
June 3 to June 6, 2018
Type
Flash flood
Cause
Extreme rainfall

Locations

A - Morlaix
B - Côtes-d’Armor
C - Ille-et-Vilaine
D - Piseux
E - Bémécourt
F - Guéroulde
G - Breteuil-sur-Iton

Magnitude

Rainfall level
52 mm in 24 hours
Morlaix - June 3 to June 4, 2018
Figures from Meteo Bretagne. Most of rain fell in 1 hour.
Rainfall level
70 mm in 24 hours
Monts d’Arrée - June 3 to June 4, 2018
River level
2 metres
Jarlot river, Morlaix - June 4 to June 4, 2018
Record level - previous highs of 1.96 metres on 06 February 2014 and 1.93 metres on 12 December 2000.
Rainfall level
70 mm in 24 hours
Eure department - June 4 to June 5, 2018

Damages

Evacuated
100 people
Morlaix - June 3 to June 5, 2018
Estimated figure
Interventions
450 interventions
June 3 to June 5, 2018
Local fire and emergency crews were called out to over 450 interventions during the storm, with over half of them in the town of Morlaix.
Evacuated
12 people
Bémécourt - June 4 to June 6, 2018