On June 1st, the Rhône department faced another day of severe thunderstorms , following a localized storm episode that hit particularly hard on Saturday. As the day progressed, Météo France issued an orange alert , warning residents about the potential for violent storms continuing into the night. By late afternoon, thunderstorms began to sweep across the department, marking the beginning of yet another tumultuous weather event.
In Lyon and Villeurbanne , the city’s large parks and gardens, including the famous Tête d’Or Park in the 6th arrondissement, were urgently closed to the public for part of the day due to safety concerns.
Giant Hailstones in North Rhône
By late afternoon, the north of Rhône and the Beaujolais region were subjected to intense thunderstorms accompanied by hail, with stones ranging from 4 to 6 centimeters in diameter, and locally even reaching 8 centimeters . The primary damage reported was to the vegetation in affected areas.
Severe thunderstorms were reported in the Monts du Lyonnais . Later in the evening, after 9 PM, unsettled weather conditions persisted in southern Lyon , particularly along the border with the Loire department.
Along the A6 , heavy storms affected both the north of Rhône and Saône-et-Loire regions, causing fallen trees along the freeway near Mâcon , which resulted in challenging traffic conditions, especially due to the holiday rush following Ascension Day .
The inclement weather also caused significant delays on the TGV Sud-Est line, with some travelers experiencing up to three hours of delays for departures and arrivals between Lyon and Paris . Many TGV services departing from and going to Lyon Part-Dieu were also impacted.
Lightning and Thunder Illuminate the Lyon Sky
As the evening unfolded, the Lyon metropolitan area was engulfed in intense thunderstorms , with giant lightning bolts illuminating the night sky.
Orange Alert Extended into the Night
Météo France extended the orange alert for thunderstorms throughout the night from Sunday to Monday, lasting until 3 AM for the Rhône department.
Further thunderstorms are forecast for the entire Rhône region throughout the morning and afternoon.
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