Heat wave in full swing

Just got back yesterday from a trip to Lyon. During the week it was 95ºF / 35ºC, but by the weekend it was solidly 100ºF. There was a red-level "canicule" alert from Méteo France, comparing it to the waves of August 2003 and July 2019, the former which killed 15,000 people in France alone.

Not sure what the effect is on wine grapes, given that they are tiny now and harvest is months away.

[David M. Bueker]

Ugh. But climate change is a hoax don’t you know.

Just got back yesterday from a trip to Lyon. During the week it was 95ºF / 35ºC, but by the weekend it was solidly 100ºF. There was a red-level "canicule" alert from Méteo France, comparing it to the waves of August 2003 and July 2019, the former which killed 15,000 people in France alone.

Not sure what the effect is on wine grapes, given that they are tiny now and harvest is months away.

I have yet seen any reports about the effect on the wine grapes of the present episode of extreme heat. However, we already had an episode of unusually premature heat for several days towards the end of May (maxima well in the 30sC = around 90F). This was described by the President of the CNIV (National Interprofessional Wine Committee) as "a new revelation of climate change". His report then was that, given relatively cool nights, it was not expected to have any harmful effect but, added to an already early cycle of vegetation, it probably meant early harvests in August.

This time, the nights are not cool (even as far north as here in Normandy minima of 26C = nearly 80F), so the effects could be harmful. Furthermore violent thunder storms with hail are fairly certain in some areas. Let us hope there will not be a further ratcheting up of these episodes into July and August.

[Jenise]

It was 114 in Bordeaux yesterday, or so a friend said. Not good!

It was 114 in Bordeaux yesterday, or so a friend said. Not good!

My weather app reports 43C = 109F in Bordeaux yesterday. Average max for 23 June is 26C and previous peak max was 35C in 1967. It ain't finished yet.

[Jenise]

Those are astonishing, and frightening, numbers. I'm so grateful to live in the cool Pacific Northwest. Right now: 71F outside at 1 p.m.

Those are astonishing, and frightening, numbers. I'm so grateful to live in the cool Pacific Northwest. Right now: 71F outside at 1 p.m.

Lucky you. But didn't you guys in the Pacific Northwest have a similar or even worse heat dome episode in 2021? I recall that it was centred on British Columbia and reached c.49°C = 121°F at Lytton which was destroyed by a wildfire. I'm not a scientist but am prepared to buy their "hoax" in the face of all this anecdotal evidence and personal experience of climate change!