Vigilance levels

Each weather condition defined in the emergency response plan is divided into two levels of vigilance:

• the orange vigilance level;
• and the red vigilance level.

Orange level

The orange level is announced in the following situations:

• gusts of wind

when there are violent winds (between 90 km/h and 110 km/h)

• snow or freezing precipitation

between 11 and 25 cm of snow in 12 hours or freezing precipitation across the country

• storms

hail between 1 and 3 cm, gusts of wind between 90 and 110 km/h or rain between 25 and 35 l/h and CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) 1000-2500 J/kg

• heat

when temperatures vary between 33°C and 35°C with an average temperature exceeding 23°C

• cold

when temperatures vary between -11°C and -15°C

• rain

when there is heavy rain (between 31-45 l/m2 in 6 hours, 41-60 l/m2 in 12 hours or 51-80 l/m2 in 24 hours)

Red level

The red level is announced in the following situations:

• gusts of wind

when there are very violent winds exceeding 110 km/h

• snow or freezing precipitation

when there is heavy snow (more than 15 cm in 12 hours) or ice (more than 1 l/m2 in 12 hours)

• storms

hail above 3 cm, gusts of wind exceeding 110 km/h or rain over 35 l/h and CAPE (Convective Available Potential Energy) above 2500 J/kg

• heat

when temperatures exceed 36°C with an average temperature exceeding 23°C

• cold

when temperatures fall below -15°C

• rain

rain above 45 l/m2 in 6 hours, above 60 l/m2 in 12 hours or above 80 l/m2 in 24 hours