Just worth saying, for those heading to Southern Europe, that we are experiencing a very hot early summer.

Shade temperatures have been 38C (100F) this week here, more further South.

I've got current weather info here : http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/la...eather-now.htm

Currently 28C at 09.00 .

Peter
www.the-languedoc-page.com

Hot weather will be the norm for Europe in the future, so it's best to break out the air conditioners and get used to it. Temperatures have skyrocketed in the past few years. For several weeks in August of 2003, temperatures in Paris were at the same level as those of Las Vegas.

Yesterday's temperatures in Paris were in the 90s (Fahrenheit). The overnight low was higher than the normal daily high for this time of year. The temperature is thus running about 20-25 degrees above "normal," and it has been doing this more and more frequently over the past few years.

One thing that this means is that you can no longer trust the temperature averages you see in guide books. The real temps may or may not be what you read in the books. In some cases, it may be 20 degrees hotter or more when you actually arrive.

Peter,
We were in Le Lavandou from 1st June for 10 days. Day temps were around 33°C (in the shade) during the first 6 days. We've never experienced such hot weather in the south, so early in the year, when we vacationed there 25 and more years ago.

I've noticed that, although I've seen temps more around 90F (in Montpellier area). I'll be there by the end of the week. It's pretty hot in Paris right now, also, but not over 90.

It was at least 96 F today in Paris. The official temperatures are measured in shade inside a shelter. The actual temperatures on the city streets and sidewalks are much higher.

Dijon, Burgundy 9pm now 30°c (86°F)

My daughter & SIL called me in the middle of the night (my time) and said that Rome is so hot & humid it is unbearable. SIL's house and his father's car does not have a/c and so they are very very miserable.

Please send some of this weather to central Canada.

Though not afflicted with the floods that are forcing people out of their homes in the west (Alberta), we have had SO MUCH rain this spring!

Gardens look great though.

Hi

It is difficult to forecast weather cycles. Various cycles overlap, and true results require 100 yrs + to determine trends.

However the last 10 years include several of the hottest years this century.

Over the last 30 years, the highest temperatures experienced have been in June & August. They were 43C ( 110F).

We are in a valley 25kms from the Med. We don't get sea breezes. So, we are hotter in summer & cooler in winter than Montpellier and Barcelona. And the humidity is generally very low.

A pic from 2003 : http://www.the-languedoc-page.com/la...-photo-024.htm

Peter

that said, until the last week or so the temps for Paris i saw in paper seemed cool - don't judge summer on one week. And though Europe may heat up in the short term, the alteration of currents in sea will change the gulf stream and Europe's climate will be that of Canada - freezing with devastating loss of agriculture.
Canicule? Too early to tell and i do believe it was a cool or at least not warm spring. I may be wrong.

Hi

it was a mild winter. But we had a few very cold days in March. Even down to -8C.

Interestingly, we had zero rainfall between mid November and May. So far, we have had about 2 inches since May, and we are now in our dry season.

Compare this with 640mm recorded in Anduze in 24 hrs in Sept 2002.

This area has had recorded dramatically changeable weather conditions over the last 2000 years.

Peter