Storm in England and France: Ciaran causes floods

A storm sweeps across Western Europe, causing heavy rains. High waves are expected on the south coast of England.

Approaching Storm Ciaran brought heavy rain to Northern Ireland and Ireland on Tuesday evening. France is also preparing for the storm that is expected to hit the northwest of the country as of Wednesday evening. Wind speeds are expected to reach 170 kilometers per hour on the French Atlantic coast and the English Channel, French weather service Météo France announced on Tuesday.

British and Irish media reported that flooding had already occurred in the city of Newry, Northern Ireland, on the east coast. Not far away, in County Louth, Ireland, floods caused a bridge to collapse. Irish public broadcaster RTÉ reported that many roads were impassable.

Meteorological services in Ireland and the United Kingdom issued warnings of strong winds and rain on Wednesday and Thursday. In addition to the Irish island, the southern coast of England is particularly affected by Storm Ciaran. There could also be high waves there on Thursday, according to a statement from the Met Office.

The French Meteorological Authority warned residents of dangerous conditions and called on them to follow the instructions of the authorities. The second highest warning level, orange, was imposed on three departments in Brittany. The authorities called on people in the affected areas to stay in their homes if possible during the storm and to secure items that could be carried by the wind. The storm is expected to continue in France until Thursday afternoon.