As of February 19, 2026, France is grappling with an unprecedented hydrological crisis as Storm Pedro intensifies the already critical flooding situation following a record-breaking 35 consecutive days of rain. This period of continuous rainfall marks the longest uninterrupted stretch since records began in 1959, leading to severe flooding across western France. The national weather service, Météo-France, has confirmed that several departments remain under red alert, with emergency measures activated in major cities like Bordeaux, where Mayor Pierre Hurmic expressed the distressing reality, stating, "It's incredibly distressing, really. Every morning we see the water coming closer and closer." Reports indicate that more than 2,000 homes in Saintes have been affected, with half already inundated, and over 9,000 homes in Dordogne are without drinking water due to the flooding.