France Puts 16 Departments on Orange Alert for Storms
French weather services have placed sixteen departments under orange alert for severe thunderstorms starting Monday afternoon.
The alert warns of dangerous weather conditions, including strong gusts of wind reaching up to 120 km/h. These sudden bursts of wind can damage trees, roofs and power lines.
Forecasters also expect hail, which are small balls of ice that fall during storms. Hail can damage cars, crops and buildings if it is large or heavy.
The weather is expected to change quickly after 4 p.m. on Monday, moving from calm to stormy conditions in a short time. This kind of sudden shift is common before intense thunderstorms.
Along with the wind and hail, authorities are forecasting intense rainfall, meaning very heavy rain falling in a short period. This can lead to flooding in some areas.
Nine of the sixteen departments are expected to see the most dramatic weather changes, according to the report. Residents in these areas are being urged to follow safety advice and stay updated through official weather channels.
Authorities have not given exact department names in this summary, but they have confirmed that the alert covers a significant part of the country. People are advised to avoid unnecessary travel during the height of the storms and to secure loose objects outdoors.
Vocabulary5 words
- orange alert
- an official warning that weather could be dangerous
- gusts
- sudden strong movements of wind
- hail
- small hard balls of ice that fall from clouds
- thunderstorms
- storms with thunder, lightning, wind and rain
- intense rainfall
- a large amount of rain falling quickly
Quiz
Answer key
1. 16 2. Up to 120 km/h 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
French weather services have placed sixteen departments under _____ for severe thunderstorms starting Monday afternoon.
The alert warns of dangerous weather conditions, including strong _____ of wind reaching up to 120 km/h.
Forecasters also expect _____, which are small balls of ice that fall during storms.
The weather is expected to change quickly after _____ on Monday, moving from calm to stormy conditions in a short time.
Along with the wind and hail, authorities are forecasting _____, meaning very heavy rain falling in a short period.
Nine of the sixteen departments are expected to see the most _____ weather changes, according to the report.
People are advised to avoid unnecessary _____ during the height of the storms and to secure loose objects outdoors.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever experienced a sudden storm with strong wind or hail? What happened?
- Why do you think authorities issue weather alerts before storms arrive?
- What precautions do you think people should take when an orange alert is announced?
- How important is accurate weather forecasting for public safety in your opinion?