Weather ... again

[Loup-garou]

High on the hill next to the cathedral in Autun our bedroom curtains billowed out a few times in the night , otherwise ................. .

[Blaze]

We had some very welcome rain to top up the barrels, accompanied by a nice thunderstorm. It rumbled on for ages and a house not far away was struck by lightning early evening while the occupants were inside. The roof caught fire - fortunately the pompiers arrived very quickly and it was soon put out.

Apart from the horrible humidity over the last few days, it hasn't been hot here and the afternoon sea breeze is always welcome. We're off to work at a big rock/metal festival near Nantes tomorrow and the contrast in temperatures is unbelievable - upper 20s and 30s. Normalement we'll be too busy to notice it

[exile]

Nothing down here*.

Yet

The departement immediately to the north is on orange alert for storms later and storms are notorious for not respecting departemental borders.

We are forecast storms for tomorrow though according to Meteo France but the Norwegian forecast says only 0.3mm rain expected. We shall see which is more accurate. I hope it is MF, since the garden could do with a soaking.



* And thank goodness for that with the Ardechois bike event on today. The roads through the village have just reopened with well over 10,000 cyclists having passed through.

[demi]

No storms here (near Nantes) but a big one in Nates, according to friends. Brace yourself, Blaze as it's going to get hotter all of next week! It's a lovely cloudy 24C today but heading up to 33+ by the end of the week. Bon courage!!

[Blaze]

@demi We've been given a special dispensation to wear shorts during the day (normally they're only worn by those on beach duty/lifeguards) but we must wear trews in the evening/night. I'm taking loads of sunscreen, etc !!

[demi]

Take loads of insect repellent as well - you will be right in the middleof the vinyards and there are a lot of mossies.

[Pathca]

Love the expression ‘Trews’

[Blaze]

Love the expression ‘Trews’

They're not tartan, but they have thick padded knees which are perfect for old bones when you have to kneel down

[exile]

Well the storms warned against for the departement just north of us failed to materialise with the first lightning there only appearing at 23:30. In fairness to Meteo France, further north still, around Montbard, they got a fair old battering. When I looked late last night in a square of about 60km x 60km they were at one stage getting over 400 strikes per minute. 60km is about the limit to hear the thunder. So some folk will have had a very disturbed start to the night.

Meanwhile the Norwegian forecasters have adjusted our rain expectations for today upwards and then back down somewhat. This perhaps illustrates the challenges in forecasting for mountainous areas.

Currently odd spots of rain with distant rumbles.

[MAD87]

Odd spots of rain here too, but clearing and temps rising. Forecast to be a hot week.
Looking back over the last 34 years, this weather is much more like end July-mid August, so perhaps a rethink is needed.