The depression named Charles brought heavy rain to the whole Côte d’Azur on Thursday 12 November, and the Alpes-Maritimes département, where Nice is located, was placed on yellow alert. France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur reports disruption on the roads, landslides, evacuations and rescues across the region.
What happened
According to France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, the rain affected the entire Côte d’Azur and caused its share of disruption on the roads. The Alpes-Maritimes and the Var were both placed in vigilance jaune (yellow alert, the second level of the national weather warning scale) by Météo France, the national weather service.
The source says the risk was raised for three things: coastal flooding from waves (vagues de submersion), inundations, and storms with heavy rain. As in every intense rain episode, the préfectures (the offices of the State’s representative in each département) called for the greatest vigilance.
The headline of the article carries the words “C’est la catastrophe” and lists flooded businesses, evacuations, closed roads and éboulements (landslides or rockfalls). France 3 gives one named example: a restaurant in Saint-Raphaël was completely flooded on Thursday 12 November. The article also mentions rescues, and it describes itself as an overview of the disruption.
What it means for you
The source places the Alpes-Maritimes under yellow alert, so this affects anyone living in Nice and the surrounding towns. The text available to us does not name any road, rail line, bus route or neighbourhood in Nice that was closed or flooded. It also gives no times, costs or deadlines. We will not guess at those details, and the practical steps below come from the warnings the source describes.
- Check the alert level. Météo France publishes the vigilance map, and yellow means you should stay attentive and follow the situation. The source names flooding, coastal submersion and storms as the risks.
- Follow the préfecture. The source says the préfectures urge extra caution. The préfecture of the Alpes-Maritimes is the body to watch for local instructions.
- Plan journeys carefully. Because the source reports closed roads and landslides on the Côte d’Azur, check the state of your route before you leave. The article does not say which roads were affected in the Nice area.
- Be careful near the sea. The warning for vagues de submersion concerns the coast, so keep clear of the waterfront while the alert applies.
- Businesses and landlords. The Saint-Raphaël restaurant shows how quickly premises can be flooded. If you run a shop, café or rental property, the source offers no guidance on damage claims, so ask your insurer or your local mairie (town hall) what steps apply to you.
What to watch next
The version of the article we have is incomplete, and it does not say how long the episode will last or whether the alert will be raised or lifted. It was updated on the evening of Thursday 12 November, so the situation may have changed since. Watch the Météo France vigilance map and the announcements of the Alpes-Maritimes préfecture for changes in the alert level. Watch for reports of reopened roads too, and read the France 3 article in full for later updates. The source calls this a round-up of the disruption, so further details on specific closures may follow there.
Source: France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur
Sources
- France 3 Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur: "C'est la catastrophe", entreprises inondées, évacuations, routes fermées, éboulements : la dépression Charles frappe la Côte d'Azur, accessed 13 November 2026
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