Britain and France brace for Storm Ciaran

Wind gusts of up to 170 km/h are possible along the Atlantic coast. The second-highest alert level, orange, has been imposed for three departments in French Brittany.

Storm “Ciaran” brought heavy rain to Northern Ireland and Ireland on Tuesday night. France is also bracing for the storm, which is expected to hit the northwestern part of the country from Wednesday evening. Weather service Météo France reported Tuesday that winds of up to 170 kilometers per hour could hit the French Atlantic coast and the English Channel.

British and Irish media have already reported flooding in the Northern Irish town of Newry on the east coast. Far away, in County Louth, Ireland, a bridge collapsed due to flooding. Irish public broadcaster RTÉ reported that many roads were impassable.

High tides forecast

Met Offices in Ireland and England have issued warnings for strong winds and rain on Wednesday and Thursday. Apart from the Irish Isles, the south coast of England is particularly affected by Storm “Ciaran”. A report from the Met Office of the British Meteorological Service said there could be high tides on Thursday as well.

The French weather service warned people of dangerous conditions and called on them to follow the instructions of the authorities. The second-highest alert level, orange, has been imposed for three departments in Brittany. Officials are urging people in affected areas to stay indoors if possible during the storm and to keep items that could be blown away safe. The storm is expected to linger in France until Thursday afternoon. (APA)