Paris won’t feel flood relief this week following Seine River crest
Flood concerns have prompted Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo to urge residents to stay on high alert as the Seine River swelled up to 20 feet along its banks.
The Seine River crested in Paris on Monday; however, flood waters continue to threaten the city and towns downstream.
The flooding has already inundated roads, railways and walking paths in Paris along the river, according to The Local.
The river crested at 5.86 meters (19.23 feet) falling just short of levels recorded during the June 2016 flooding, during which the Louvre Museum was closed for four days as workers evacuated 35,000 pieces of art.
During the June 2016 flood, a crest of 6.1 meters (20 feet) was recorded. The river's all-time highest crest is 8.62 meters (28.3 feet) from 28 January 1910.
The banks of river Seine are flooded in Paris, France, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. Floodwaters have reached a peak in Paris and are now threatening towns downstream along the rain-engorged Seine River. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
France’s most visited museum, the Louvre, made the decision on Wednesday to close the lower level of the Department of Arts of the Islam which remained in effect on Monday.
The Seine is one of many rivers out of their banks after nearly every major weather station across France measured above-normal rainfall this month. The worst and most widespread flooding is occurring across the northeast.
(Photo/Stephanie Agoreyo)
Despite cresting on Monday, river levels are expected to only fall slowly in the coming days and additional rainfall could cause river levels to pause at midweek before falling further late in the week.
Paris received 167.4 mm (6.59 inches) through the first 28 days of January, which is more than double the normal rainfall that typically falls during the month of January.
Drier weather over the weekend prevented higher flood waters; however, locations farther downstream across northeast France will continue to be impacted by flooding this week.
People walk on the Alma bridge by the Zouave statue which is used as a measuring instrument during floods in Paris, on Thursday, 25 January 2018. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
A spotty shower may occasionally dot northeastern France on Tuesday, but any rainfall will be light and is not expected to increase river levels.
A period of light rain is expected from Tuesday night into Wednesday with some additional showers possible this weekend.
Flooding along the Seine has also halted river traffic, The Local reported.
South of Paris, Villeneuve-Saint-Georges along the banks of the Seine has been one of the towns hit hardest by flooding. About 150 residents have evacuated as floodwaters submerged streets and cars.
In total, the flooding has caused damage in 242 towns along the Seine and its tributaries in recent weeks.
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