Weather in Charente

[JackT]

Is anyone in Charente who can say what the weather is like there at the moment. also what's it been like the past 2 months? We're undecided on which region we'd like to move to, and the weather is an important factor. I've been keeping an eye on the meteo.fr site but not sure it's that accurate. Currently it shows all France sunny approx 19-20c. The other week it was showing raining in Vienne but someone there said they've not seen rain for ages!

Thanks

JT

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[Graham & Brenda]

This is a difficult question to answer. When we bought our house in Sept. 2003 we were told that we could expect it to be wetter than SE England. It was a very dry spring, summer and winter 2004/5 and a dry spring and summer 2005 - hence our water restrictions. We are between Cognac and Angouleme but understand that the water situation is worse in the North of Poitou Charentes. Rain can be quite localised so you can't generalise. Historically we should be getting more rain - we certainly need it.

It is certainly warmer and spring comes earlier but it can be quite cold in winter - we had -10C and -13C last winter. We (an arc from La Rochelle to, say, Bordeaux and inland to, say Cognac) get more sunshine than all but the South of France.

If you are househunting it always pays to visit a region and at different times of year if you can. Gites can be useful to hire for a base to explore from.

Good hunting

Graham

[zeb]

Hi Jack - we're in North Charente, twixt Champagne Mouton and Civray (Vienne). Last night and the night before we lit the woodburner for a few hours as it was chilly. But, tonight it's warm again and for the last couple of months it has been very warm. In fact between Jan 1st and last week we had had 8 days rain in total, hence the water restrictions! We had a couple of days rain last week, proper rain and the first for months.

Neighbours say that this year has been exceptional. A couple of years ago it rained for the whole of November and then the whole of the following February. Yes, every day and very depressing it was too!

As Grs says, temps can drop to -15 but to my knowledge that's only been for a couple of nights and if you have central heating, a wood burner and someone warm to snuggle up to it's not too bad, especially as it's usually sunny during the winter days with hardly ever a cold north wind.

Much better than Clacton!

[Gunner]

Lighting the wood burner!! Come to the Charente-Maritime and you won't need to light it for another month or so! The weather has been fantastic for near on 4 months now, in fact it would be nice to see some rain.

[Dave&Olive]

hi

         we moved out here at the end of may 2005 ,we have had rain for ......... 20hours max rained last night and morning god it was bliss. deperate for rain here . I was out side tonight drinking tea at 8.30pm going dark in a t-shirt ,the cats love it ,sad but we have lost one , a hard place for pets beware.....sorry but still miss holly sorry lost it "young squeak" gone finni

                                    dave

[Frogslegs]

We are in the Deux Sevres...barbeque on Friday night, sitting outside until 11.00 in t. shirt and shorts! Yes, we do need the rain here! Our guests our pleasantly surprised that the weather here in September is so good, mind you its a fine drizzle today.

Better weather than the I.W. and much better than West Essex.

bonne chance

www.le-tilleul.com

 

 

 

 

[Lizzie15]

The temperature (in deep shade) has gone up to 30 last Weds, Thurs and Friday- gorgeous! I read the weather forecast and often totally disregard it as it is sooo unreliable.We are 55 miles north of Bordeaux  (on the coast) but often have much higher temperatures. It is pouring down today though

 

 

[Guest CFrost]

Hi jack. just got back from charente maritime, dept 17, weather glorious, no rain for 4 months according to neighbours.  Agree with lizzie, temp at 30 deg on weds last week!!!

Kimberley

chadeniers 17

[Ron Avery]

"no rain for 4 months according to neighbours.  Agree with lizzie, temp at 30 deg on weds "

Which means, water shortages, garden crops all died,  rivers and streams dried up, high fire risk, hose pipe ban for months, no water in the wells and restricted drinking water at times.

 But you do get a luvverley tan

[JackT]

Well, thanks for the input everyone. Your comments paint a sunnier and drier picture of Charente than I get from watching meteo.fr.  However that seems like a mixed blessing with the drought and all.

Amazing that it's so much hotter in Central Andalucia, e.g. around Seville, yet they don't have anywhere near such a severe water supply problem as in France.

JT