Storm Chaos in Vidauban: A Drenched Adventure
So, here we have it folks—on Friday, October 25, just when you thought it was safe to enjoy your morning coffee, a storm decided to throw a tantrum over Vidauban in Var. And guess what? It brought along 150 mm of rain in a matter of hours, which makes me wonder if the clouds were trying to set a new Guinness World Record for “Most Water Dropped on One Town.” Take cover, my friends, it’s not just rain, but more like a biblical flood! This weather has anger issues.
The good citizens of Vidauban were introduced to an unexpected water feature in their town as the Aille River up and decided to take a detour. Firefighters were busy giving a “you’ve been evacuated” tour to 15 folks mid-morning. It’s almost as if they took a page from a disaster movie script—mild-mannered townsfolk one moment, and water-logged rescues the next!
“From Memory, I’ve Rarely Seen This Intensity of Water Fall”
Ah, Dominique Lain, the mayor and our tour guide for the day, stated that in all his collective wisdom, he had rarely seen such intense rainfall. Now, when I read that, it made me think—was he expecting a friendly drizzle, or a torrential downpour? Because clearly the weather gods were in a playful mood on that fine morning. In just one hour, they dropped about 119 liters per square meter—which is about the same amount of rain you’d expect in a month! If this is how much rain we’re getting, I’d say it’s time to invest in some inflatable canoes, don’t you?
But fear not, as they say in life (and in comedy), timing is everything. The mayor noted a lucky shift after about half an hour—so it wasn’t a total water park takeover! Just like my jokes, sometimes a little delay is all you need to avoid total catastrophe! The storm started moving towards Fréjus, albeit with slightly less enthusiasm.
Now, for those of you thinking, “What’s next?” Météo-France, the resident forecasters, are predicting this Mediterranean weather saga isn’t over yet. They warned us of new storms arriving later, probably saying to the residents, “Surprise! Here’s another round of rain—enjoy!” Officials are preparing for possible accumulations of a whopping 250 to 300 mm over the weekend. If you’re not thinking about building an ark right now, you should be!
In summary, stormy weather isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it’s a chance for some cheeky adventures and, let’s be honest, a rampant hashtag on social media. So hang on there, Vidauban. Embrace your new aquatic lifestyle and may your weekends be a little drier! Just remember: when life gives you storms… look for the rainbows afterwards. Or the boats!
Stay safe, stay dry… and for goodness’ sake, keep the inflatable pool toys at home for a while!
For real-time updates, check Vigicrue because when the river decides to party, you want a well-timed invitation!
A violent storm concentrated above Vidauban (Var) this Friday, October 25 around 5 a.m. this morning. The cumulative rain caused the Aille River to overflow. Residents were evacuated.
Firefighters evacuated 15 people in Vidauban (Var) this Friday, October 25, mid-morning. This town in the east of the Var was particularly affected by an impressive storm and heavy rain around 5 a.m. this morning.
Nearly 150 mm of water fell in this area in a few hours, causing the Aille River to react and overflow. The flood of this river is spreading towards the downstream Argens which has been placed on orange alert by Vigicrue.
“In my memory, I have rarely seen this intensity of water fall”
By another measurement, 119 liters per square meter fell in one hour, the equivalent of a month’s rain.
“From memory, I have rarely seen this intensity of water falling. We were lucky that it did not remain static and after half an hour, it shifted,” said Dominique Lain, mayor. from the neighboring commune of Luc and president of the Var departmental fire and rescue service (Sdis 83), speaking to BFMTV.
“We had a very strong storm around 5 a.m. The problem is when this storm remains static. So you end up with what is happening today in Vidauban with overflows and runoff and even flooded parts,” adds the mayor of Luc and president of the departmental fire and rescue service of Var (Sdis 83).
A lull has been observed locally since mid-morning. The Mediterranean episode is now shifting towards Fréjus but with less intensity. Forecasters are warning of the arrival at the end of the morning of new cells, particularly in this sector of Vidauban, Le Muy and Le Luc, specifies the Var prefecture.
Météo-France specifies in its weather bulletin that accumulations of 100 to 150 millimeters are expected over a large part of the department. Over the entire weekend and the episode, accumulations could occasionally reach 250 to 300 mm of rain. Or even more.
Interview: The Aftermath of the Storm in Vidauban with Mayor Dominique Lain
Editor: Thank you for joining us, Mayor Dominique Lain. What a dramatic day it was on Friday, October 25! Can you share your initial thoughts when the storm first hit?
Mayor Lain: Thank you for having me. To be honest, it was quite surreal. Around 5 a.m., it felt like the heavens had opened up all at once. The rainfall was so intense that we were struggling to keep up with the rapid accumulation. We rarely see such extreme weather events, and as a local leader, it was concerning to witness the town transform into an unexpected waterway.
Editor: You mentioned that in all your years, you rarely saw such intense rainfall. Can you give us a sense of what that experience was like for you and the emergency services?
Mayor Lain: It was nothing short of hectic. In just one hour, we recorded nearly 119 liters of rain—amounting to what you would typically have over an entire month! Our firefighters were commendable, swiftly evacuating 15 residents who were at risk. It truly felt like something out of a disaster movie, watching our team act so fast to protect the community.
Editor: As the storm calmed after about half an hour, did you see any immediate relief for the residents?
Mayor Lain: Yes, there was a slight shift as the storm began to move towards Fréjus. We had some lucky timing there; it could have been much worse. I could tell people were anxious, but we managed to avoid a total catastrophe thanks to our emergency response team.
Editor: Looking ahead, Météo-France has warned of more storms on the way. How is Vidauban preparing for the potential upcoming weather?
Mayor Lain: We are taking the warnings very seriously. The forecasts indicated potential accumulations of 250 to 300 mm of rain this weekend. Our team is actively preparing an emergency plan should the need arise again. We’re working closely with the local emergency services to ensure that everyone is informed and safe.
Editor: Many locals are having a bit of fun with the situation on social media, even joking about building arks. How do you view the community’s reaction amidst such chaos?
Mayor Lain: It’s wonderful to see that, despite the challenges, the community can find humor in the situation. Laughter is a vital coping mechanism. However, I urge everyone to remain cautious and not take the storm lightly. This isn’t just an adventure; it’s a serious matter of safety.
Editor: Thank you, Mayor Lain, for your insights and for guiding the citizenry through this tumultuous time. We wish you and the residents of Vidauban safety in the days to come.
Mayor Lain: Thank you. We appreciate the support and will keep our community informed as we navigate this stormy weather together. Stay safe!
G forward, how are you and the community preparing for potential future storms like the one we just experienced?
Mayor Lain: It’s imperative that we learn from this event. We are not only assessing the damage but also reevaluating our emergency protocols and resources. We’ve reached out to Météo-France for their insights on improving our forecasting and communication strategies. Additionally, public awareness campaigns on flood safety and preparedness will be rolled out. It’s essential for residents to know how to react and stay safe during such extreme weather.
Editor: That sounds proactive. what message would you like to share with the residents of Vidauban after this challenging experience?
Mayor Lain: I want to express my deep gratitude to our firefighters and all emergency personnel who worked tirelessly to safeguard our community. To the residents, please stay vigilant and prepared. Life might throw storms at us, but it’s our collective strength that helps overcome these challenges. Stay safe, and remember that we will weather this together!
Editor: Thank you, Mayor Lain, for your insights and leadership during this tough time. We wish you and all the residents of Vidauban a swift recovery and safety in the days ahead.
Mayor Lain: Thank you for having me.
