Record 37 Days of Rain Triggers Ongoing Severe Flooding in Western France

France is grappling with its 37th consecutive day of rainfall as of February 20, 2026, resulting in exceptional flooding primarily across its western and southwestern regions. The persistent downpours have caused significant disruptions to local infrastructure, with over 300 secondary roads still closed, particularly in departments like Maine-et-Loire, Ille-et-Vilaine, Gironde, and Loire-Atlantique, which was recently placed under red alert alongside other severely affected areas such as Charente-Maritime and Lot-et-Garonne.

Key cities including Angers and Saintes remain under maximum flood vigilance due to ongoing inundations. The Loire River in Saumur rose to approximately 4.91 meters, prompting authorities to close numerous quays. Despite a slow decline of floodwaters in some southwestern localities, the situation remains critical, with meteorological forecasts predicting additional rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday that threatens to exacerbate flooding. Officials, including Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot, have convened crisis meetings to address the impact on transportation. Rail services have largely recovered to near-normal levels, aside from some disruptions near Ariège and around Périgueux and Béziers. However, challenges persist on key routes such as the Nantes ring road and the highway between Rennes and Lorient.

Climate experts highlight the unprecedented duration of consecutive rainfall not seen since measurement began in 1959, contributing to the scale of this disaster. Social media has captured unusual scenes like a man kayaking through a flooded supermarket parking lot in Saumur, offering a moment of levity amid the crisis.

Authorities continue to urge vigilance as many areas have yet to see receding waters and risks remain of renewed hardship due to forecasted additional rain. The weekend is expected to see continued flood vigilance and challenges for residents and services in the affected departments.