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Normandy Local Reference INFOrmation

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Weather Warnings, Heatwaves & Water Restrictions in France

Information and links to daily French government information on the heat warnings and water restrictions for the summer season.

MeteoFrance issues national weather warnings. These are published on a map updated twice daily.

For up-to-the minute weather warnings: Click here (in French)

There are four categories of alert, they are:

	Green: No warnings in place
	Yellow: Minor alert
	Orange: High alert, dangerous meteorological conditions are forecast
	Red: Maximum alert, severe and dangerous weather conditions. Precautions to be taken

These degrees of alert may be further clarified into the follow types of bad weather conditions. The are identified as:

violent winds (vent violent)
extremely heavy rain (pluie-inondation)
thunderstorms (orage)
snow and ice (neige-verglas)
Heatwave / extreme temperatures (canicule)

Heat

Each summer France runs a heat wave warning system, the plan canicule, intended to prevent and fight against the medical consequences of a heat wave. Weather reports on TV, radio and in newspapers will quote the four levels of alert with orange being a high alert and red maximum mobilisation.

Level 1: No alert in place
Level 2: Pre-alarm: Heat wave forecast for three days. Preventions and protection to be put into effect
Level 3: Alarm: Effective heat wave. People to behave appropriately
Level 4: Maximum Mobilisation: Heat wave with severe medical impact expected

People are recommended to take precautions by staying out of direct heat and sun and drinking water regularly and special care should be taken of the young, elderly and ill.

Weather warnings

From the Ministère de la Santé: Click here (in French)
Heat wave Information Service (Canicule Info Service): 0800 06 66 66 (freephone Monday to Saturday 08:00-20:00)
For a map of the weather warnings: Click here (in French)

Drought and Water

Water restrictions are frequently in place in parts of France. The Ministère d'Ecologie et du Développement website carries regular updates on communes in which restrictions have been imposed as well as what those restrictions are. Once water restrictions are in force, local government will make a map available showing the levels of restrictions in each area.

They are: