Guadeloupe goes into red alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms

Storm Philippe passes close to the archipelago. Guadeloupe was placed on red alert for heavy rain and thunderstorms on Monday October 2 evening, Météo-France announced in its latest alert bulletin. Schools in Guadeloupe will remain closed on Tuesday, we learned from the prefecture. She announced that the departmental operational center – that is to say the crisis unit – had been set up.

The storm, which is expected to pass as close as possible to the coast during the night and Tuesday morning, according to Météo-France, is causing very heavy rain on the archipelago and localized flooding for the time being, paralyzing certain roads since 7 p.m. (1 hour in Paris). THE “torrential rains are currently occurring across the entire archipelago”, also note meteorologists, who recommend the greatest caution. Accumulations of around 200 to 300 mm over 24 hours are expected.

Gusts up to 70 km/h

“The wind blows south-southwest between 40 and 50 km/h especially along the seaside and on the heights”, further warns the organization, which alerts of stronger gusts, up to 70 km/h, which could occur during showers. The rain has already cut off some roads, according to Routes de Guadeloupe, which reported landslides and falling trees.

Numerous videos are circulating on social networks, showing different places in Guadeloupe, particularly in the south of Basse-Terre, completely flooded. These images recall Storm Fiona, which submerged the area on the night of September 15 to 16, 2022, causing one death.