by Richard Davies, floodlist

Storms and periods of heavy rain led to multiple flooding incidents in France during March 2024.

The month started with stormy weather impacting southern areas of the country on 03 March 2024. Flooding and landslides were reported in areas of Alpes-Maritimes department. Strong winds also caused damage.

Around the same time heavy rain in the south west caused the Charente river in Charente-Maritime Department, flooding buildings in the city of Saintes. This was the third incident of flooding in the region since November 2023. The Charente River at Saintes reached 5.54 metres on 05 March 2024.

Rivers in other parts of the country were also swollen around this time, including the Seine which caused minor flooding in Paris and its outskirts on 04 March 2024. Some roads were closed and walkways along the river were flooded in the city and limits were placed on boats and river traffic. The Seine would rise again in early April, causing similar problems.

From 08 March, Storm Monica swept over the country bringing very heavy rain. Some areas in the south recorded more than 300 mm of rain in 48 hours, triggering severe flooding in the departments of Gard, Ardèche, Var, Aveyron and Hérault in particular.

In the Gard department, six people were reported missing and later found dead after being swept away by floods in separate incidents in Gagnières, Dions and Goudargues.  Hundreds of firefighters were mobilized to carry out searches using, drones, detection dogs and helicopters. Firefighters in the Gard department carried out 176 interventions in the space of a few hours from the evening of 09 to the early morning of 10 March.

In the neighbouring department of Ardèche, one person was reported missing on 09 March in the village of Saint Martin de Valamas. In the Var Department, firefighters were called on to rescue motorists trapped in flood waters and evacuate residents of homes threatened by floods in the municipalities of Fréjus, Grimaud and Hyères.

In Hérault Department, one person died after a vehicle was swept into the Hérault river in Pézenas. The flooding Lot river caused problems in areas of Aveyron department, including Saint-Geniez-d'Olt-et-d'Aubrac and Espalion, where the river reached 3.27 metres on 10 March.

Around the same time swollen rivers including the Serein, Armançon, Arroux and Allier caused flooding issues in areas of Saône-et-Loire and Côte-d'Or departments.  These rivers, along with the Ouche, Brenne and others would rise again in early April, flooding areas of Saône-et-Loire, Côte-d'Or and Yonne departments.

On 12 March high tides caused flooding along banks of the Garonne River in Bordeaux and surrounding areas of Gironde department.  Homes were damaged in villages along the river including Cambes, Quinsac and Portets. Some roads were closed in the city of Bordeaux.

Heavy rain in late March caused rivers to overflow in departments of west-central France, in particular Indre-et-Loire, Vienne, Haute-Vienne and Indre Departments. The Gartempe river flooded areas including Montmorillon and Saint-Savin, while the swollen Creuse caused problems in Buxeuil, La Roche-Posay and Descartes.

Flooding impacted communities along the Vienne river such as Châtellerault, L'Île-Bouchard, Chinon, Saint-Germain-sur-Vienne and Nouâtre. In Indre department the overflowing Angllin flooded the town of Bélâbre, prompting evacuations. The Indre river reached its third highest level on record at Châteauroux. 

In total, Vienne Department reported 283 buildings were damaged and around 150 people were evacuated. Over 150 people were evacuated In Indre-et-Loire department, 43 in Haute-Vienne and around 50 in Indre. A kayaker was reported missing in the Vienne River in Aixe-sur-Vienne, Haute-Vienne department.