Orange Flood Alert in Aude as Heavy Rain Causes Widespread Disruption
NARBONNE, 19 January 2026 – The Aude department in southern France remains under an orange vigilance alert for flooding and rain on Monday, following a night of intense rainfall that caused rivers to overflow and forced the closure of dozens of roads. Authorities have ordered the closure of all schools and cancelled public events, while a neighbourhood in Narbonne has been evacuated as a precaution.
Widespread Transport Disruption
The eastern part of the department was particularly impacted overnight, with several watercourses, including the Cesse river, breaching their banks. The prefecture has published an extensive list of departmental roads (Routes Départementales) that are currently cut to traffic due to flooding or partial submersion. Drivers are strongly urged to respect all road signage and not to attempt to drive on flooded roads, as other routes may be closed in the coming hours.
Key Facts & Official Measures
| Alert Status | Official Actions |
|---|---|
| Orange Vigilance for flooding/rain across Aude. | All schools, nurseries, and leisure centres closed Monday. |
| River Cesse on orange flood alert; Orbieu on yellow alert. | All outdoor and indoor public events cancelled until 22:00 Monday. |
| Soil saturation from prior rainfall increasing flood risk. | Evacuation of the Maraussan and Mayolle districts in Narbonne. |
Evacuations and Public Information
As a preventive measure on Sunday evening, the prefecture ordered the evacuation of residents in the ground-floor homes of the Maraussan and Mayolle neighbourhoods in Narbonne, located near the Rec de Veyret watercourse. Those affected have been offered shelter at the Parc des Expositions and the Arena. A public information cell has been activated and can be reached at 09 70 80 90 40.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which roads are affected by the flooding?
Over twenty departmental roads have been reported fully or partially closed. Key affected routes include the RD 1118 between Sallèles-d’Aude and Saint-Marcel-sur-Aude, the RD 618 between Fleury-d’Aude and Hérault, the RD 168 between Narbonne and La Clape, and the RD 115 in the Caunes-Minervois sector. A full list is available from the Aude prefecture.
Where can I get official updates?
Residents are advised to monitor official channels for the latest information:
- Météo France Vigilance: https://vigilance.meteofrance.fr/fr/aude
- Vigicrues (flood monitoring): https://www.vigicrues.gouv.fr/territoire/21
- Inforoute 11 for local road conditions.
What are the emergency numbers?
In case of emergency, contact the relevant services: Firefighters (18), SAMU medical emergency (15), Police/Gendarmerie (17). Use the public information line (09 70 80 90 40) for non-urgent enquiries related to the flooding situation.