Violent storms slam France with hail, rain and heavy winds

After a summer of drought, heat waves and forest fires, violent storms are whipping France and have flooded Paris subway stations and snarled traffic. 

Winds of more than 100 km/h were recorded at the top of the Eiffel Tower during a flash flood Tuesday, and similar winds were forecast Wednesday in the southeast.

Paris was hit hard by hailstorm Tuesday. Rainwater gushed down metro station stairs and onto platforms. Cars slid along embankments where Seine River broke its banks.

Storms that swept through southern France overnight and Wednesday caused flooding of Old Port of Marseille, the city’s main courthouse, and closed beaches.

On Wednesday, scattered storms swept across Belgium and one of them flooded Ghent after weeks of drought.

England was hit by torrential rain and thunderstorms

After last month’s record-breaking 40 C heat, London and other parts in southern England were hit with torrential rains and thunderstorms.

Flash flooding was common as downpours fell on dry ground.

Many areas of Britain are still in drought, despite all the rain. Thames Water, which supplies 15,000,000 people in London and the surrounding areas, has announced that a ban will be implemented on Aug. 24 for watering gardens and lawns.

Many parts of Western Europe have experienced extreme weather, which scientists attribute to human-made global climate change.

The downpours brought an end to weeks’ worth of heat in France, which left rivers dry and large parts of France without water.

A series of heat waves this summer in Europe has exacerbated a severe drought. This has created prime wildfire conditions.

Rain has helped to ease the load on firefighters who are facing France’s worst fire seasons in the past decade. Emergency authorities still need to be notified. said Wednesday saw scattered wildfires continue to burn in the southwest France.