Weather Warning - Orange Alert for Poitou-Charentes tonight

Description:

Gusts of up to 130kmh are expected at the coast tonight, as another Atlantic storm heads for the west coast of France.  The most violent winds are expected to hit Vendée and the Pays de Loire, although Poitou-Charentes is also expected to be amongst the worst affected.

Worse news is that the high winds are set to coincide with high tides, and coastal areas are expected to be battered by large waves.  The îles de Ré and Oléron are expected to be worst hit, with sea defences already weakened by the storm of 24 January, at places such as Clément les Baleines.

People are asked to avoid making journeys, limit their speed on the autoroutes (especially high sided vehicles), avoid walking in forested areas, and make sure that any objects susceptible to winds are secured.

The storm is expected to arrive at around 6pm this evening and is expected to last until 11am on Tuesday.

You can view the weather warning by clicking here, and view the map by clicking here.