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Some 36 departments in southern and eastern France have been placed under yellow alert for storms today (May 3) by national weather service Météo France.

The departments include most of the southern half of France excluding Ariège, Aude, Pyrénées-Orientales, Hérault, Bouches-du-Rhône and Gironde.

Eastern departments reaching up to Bas-Rhin and Vosges are also affected.

The alert will come into force at 15:00 this afternoon and last until midnight tonight.

Departments under the warning are expected to experience a rainy episode which could turn to storms after a calm morning.

The weather will be worse on higher ground, meaning that, in areas such as Alpes-Maritimes, the coastline should be largely spared at first, while inland conditions will be more unsettled.

However, over the course of the afternoon, lower ground and coastal areas may also be affected.

A yellow weather warning is put in place to encourage residents to increase their vigilance with regards to current conditions, but they do not need to take any special precautions.

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