The orange flood warning no longer applies to any department in France. On Sunday, March 1st, the lower Charente River, in Charente-Maritime, returned to a yellow warning, according to the latest bulletin published by Vigicrues at 16 p.m.
In the Saintes area, which has been particularly hard hit in recent days with over a thousand homes flooded, the water level is receding. The river continues its gradual decline, although the situation remains under close monitoring.
A period of heavy rainfall, unprecedented since 1959
This improvement comes after an exceptional weather pattern. France experienced forty consecutive days of rain, an unprecedented duration since records began in 1959. Furthermore, red flood warnings were in effect for up to five departments for fourteen days, a record duration.
The consequences remain significant. Nearly 300 municipalities have already been declared disaster areas, particularly in Gironde, Maine-et-Loire, and Lot-et-Garonne. Furthermore, 270 new claims have been filed in 16 departments, indicating that the impact of the floods continues to be felt despite improved hydrological conditions.
