Exceptional Flooding Hits Montpellier Region After Torrential Rains

Torrential rains caused exceptional flooding around Montpellier in southern France, leading to power outages, closures of public spaces, and transport disruptions. While water levels are receding and no casualties have been reported, flood and weather alerts remain in place until December 24, with the worst flooding recorded near Agde and high-level warnings issued across several departments.

Torrential rainfall triggered severe flooding in areas surrounding the southern French city of Montpellier, with local authorities describing the situation as exceptional. Officials confirmed on Wednesday that the intense downpours caused rivers to overflow and led to widespread disruption across parts of the region.
Although water levels have begun to slowly recede, authorities warned that the danger has not fully passed. Weather and flood alerts are expected to remain in place until December 24 to guard against further rainfall and possible renewed flooding. So far, no injuries or deaths have been reported, easing concerns despite the seriousness of the situation.
The heavy rains disrupted electricity supply across the Hérault department on France’s southern coast, leaving almost 1,000 homes without power on Monday evening. In Montpellier alone, about 520 households were affected. As a safety measure, several public spaces in the city remain closed, including parks, gardens, cemeteries, the local zoo and the Christmas market, which would normally be busy at this time of year.
Transport services were also affected, with parts of the public transport network temporarily shut down due to flooded roads and unsafe conditions. The prefect of Hérault, Chantal Mauchet, said that travel within the region remained difficult and urged residents to limit movement where possible and follow official guidance.
The highest river levels were recorded south of Montpellier, particularly in the coastal town of Agde. There, the River Hérault rose to more than 11 feet, a level that meteorologists said could mark the worst flooding experienced in the area since November 1994. Weather forecasters noted that the volume and intensity of rainfall were unusually high for the period.
Residents shared videos and images on social media showing flooded walkways and riverbanks along the Hérault River. Despite the dramatic scenes, authorities reported no major damage to buildings and no human casualties as of the latest assessments.
France’s flood monitoring service, Vigicrues, classified the situation as exceptional flooding and issued its highest-level red warning for the Hérault department. Orange flood warnings were also put in place for nearby departments including Aveyron, Lozère and Tarn, as officials continued to closely monitor river levels and evolving weather conditions.