Storm Ciaran, which forecasters say will be 'exceptionally intense' is predicted to hit northern France and the English Channel this week, bringing winds of up to 140km/h, before moving to central then southern France, Report informs referring to The Local.
The storm is forecast to blow in from the west, hitting the northern and western French coastlines on November 1 evening and continuing into November 2. Weather warnings are also in place for southern England.
As of October 31 morning, a total of 18 departments, the majority along France's western coastline, were on 'yellow' alert for possible flooding. Three departments in Brittany, the Morbihan, Finistère and Côtes d'Armor were on yellow alert for wind, while northern Corsica (Haute-Corse) was on 'orange' level alert for high winds.
The heavy rain and very high winds are likely to affect ferry crossings on the Channel - anyone with a crossing booked is advised to check with their travel operator nearer the time.
"Storm Ciarán will approach the coast of Brittany on Wednesday evening, then move inland across the north-western quarter of France. Strong gusts of wind are expected from Wednesday evening until midday on Thursday: between 100km/h and 110 km/h inland and between 120km/h and 140 km/h on the Brittany and Channel coasts, with gusts of up to 150 km/h," Météo France said in a new report.
The storm is then predicted to move south, with central and northern France - including the Paris region - affected on Thursday and the south west hit on Friday, along with very heavy rain on the island of Corsica.
At present it is not yet clear whether or not the storm will decrease in intensity through Thursday and Friday, said Météo France.