Weather ... again

[Hotrodder]

Doug: "I remember the 20th anniversary of my first marriage back in UK
22nd of April 1981 and we had arranged a party, we had over 6" of snow in the afternoon but a few braved the weather."

It takes more that a little snow to keep some people away from free booze.

[exile]

Further south and in the Gard 7 are missing in flood waters. It was very wet here so I could imagine what that would do to river levels in the valleys.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/se ... 3f37&ei=73

[Blaze]

The news last night showed how bad it was in the Gard, and how quickly the area flooded. They also showed a map with the enormous number of bridges at risk from flooding, and which deliberately have no side walls. I'm surprised people venture onto these bridges at this sort of time even if the roads haven't been closed. 3 dead and 4 missing is terrible - are people taking unnecessary risks or are they really caught by surprise ?

[Doug]

February was wet,wet and more wet, so far this month only one day without rain (7th).
Just think our selves lucky that we don't live in Western Australia.
Last week in February it was bush fires all over, then over the weekend the Nullabour had 200 mm of downpour, now both the only road and railway line to the east are shut by huge floods.

[exile]

The news last night showed how bad it was in the Gard, and how quickly the area flooded. They also showed a map with the enormous number of bridges at risk from flooding, and which deliberately have no side walls. I'm surprised people venture onto these bridges at this sort of time even if the roads haven't been closed. 3 dead and 4 missing is terrible - are people taking unnecessary risks or are they really caught by surprise ?

I think it depends on what you mean by by surprise. People in their 1.5 to 2 ton metal boxes on wheels probably never think that in just a small amount of water, the car can start to float. Once the drive wheels lose traction it is game over. 50cm may well be enough to do it. In flood conditions these bridges become effectively elevated fords. Earlier this winter there was a similar event back in the UK close to where we lived with a conventional ford. Big heavy Range/Land Rover or Land Cruiser (you get the drift) swept away crossing a ford I have crossed many times in normal weather conditions.

[Blaze]

I think it depends on what you mean by by surprise.

On the news last night they said that 5 people had lost their lives and 2 were missing. They also said that there was one thing in common : they were all swept away crossing one of those flooding bridges. In view of the speed with which the rivers rose, I would suggest that they badly misjudged the conditions - perhaps it was dark and they couldn't see clearly.

[MAD87]

Shhh, I don't think it's rained here today!

[Doug]

Shshsh, sun shone all morning and we actually found the deckchairs and sat out in it for elevens coffee.
What a treat, 18c yippeeeeee.
Boy I wish that I'd kept my mouth shut, nearly 6 o'clock and its raining, well more like gnats piss.

[DaveW]

I didn’t get back to France till last Sunday so missed three weekends of ‘Mediterranean events’ as they’re called now. Boy, it rained a hell of a lot. I discovered a new roof leak that left a couple of soaked carpets. Thankfully it’s nice and sunny today so they are drying out nicely. Seems it’s topped up the reservoirs and aquifers and there is a lot of snow up in the mountains to top up the reservoirs there, which is where we get out water - so good news on that front.

Awful about the poor souls who lost their lives, I’ve seen first hand how fast and furious the storm drains and rivers overflow down here, wise to stay at home when Orange/Red warnings are flagged.

[Doug]

Another beautiful day, 20c.
Able to spend the whole day gardening, cutting a hedge, strimming, mowing the lawn close to the house (only second time this year)
Now knackered but after a couple of ricards life is slowing down. Hic, hic.