We were planning on heading for France tomorrow but the weather forecast gives widespread rain over the next fortnight, with temperatures lower than in the UK.
They clearly need the rain as drought conditions have been declared.
We're postponing our departure. Has anyone else changed their plans because of the weather conditions?
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Quote: Originally posted by lidds0 on 13/5/2023
We were planning on heading for France tomorrow but the weather forecast gives widespread rain over the next fortnight, with temperatures lower than in the UK.
They clearly need the rain as drought conditions have been declared.
We're postponing our departure. Has anyone else changed their plans because of the weather conditions?
We live in the SE of the Dordogne - last week has been unseasonably cold whereas begining of month and back end of April was glorious with temps in the mid 20's. Looks like another ten days or so until temps get back to normal for this time of year. Have been lighting a fire of an evening for the last few days.
Even last summer the drought restrictions varied tremendously even between neighbouring communes - eg our commune fed by a limestone aquifer was unaffected - the adjoining commune extracting from a tributary of the Dordogne was in crisis mode.
Note round where we live, May is normally the wettest month - and February the driest!
Never changed plans; once tunnel is booked that's it, we go! Experience has taught us that forecasts are never accurate. And in any case, we never plan where to go; once we've crossed, we then make up our minds what direction to head for. We either stay in France, or go to Holland, or Germany. It's what we like about travelling on the continent, inlike over here, where you have to book most sites.
------------- Ina
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We're being a bit cautious as still have memories of going in 2018 and travelling the length and breadth of France for a month, trying (unsuccessfully) to avoid the rain. We thought that was a one-off, for the rain to be so widespread over France for so long a period, but with it looking that way again for the next fortnight, we'll hang on a bit before venturing over.
We had a caravan in '18 which made things marginally better, but have no wish to be packing up wet canvas every few nights (we prefer to tour, rather than stay in one spot for long).
Yep, exactly that, we were going to go to France on Thursday, waiting until Tuesday to book the ferry, but the forecast was not favourable, so we didn’t bother. We would normally get off the ferry at Roscoff, and head south until it warmed up, then find somewhere to stay. But it just did not look great.
We don’t see the point in having a break in the cold and rain………Fair weather campers! 👍
We will give it a week or two and look again, we never plan too far in advance unless it’s a big trip like Aus or SA, we also never book a site. Can honestly say, we have never booked a campsite in France or here. A phone call in the morning or day before does it.
Slightly OT, but we spent a few days in Exmoor, which is amazing, two weeks ago, an hour away from where we live on Dartmoor. The site we stayed on was lovely, but I rang them the day before to see if they could fit us in and they asked for a deposit! I declined, as we don’t like being pinned down……There was loads of pitches available. We had a nice pitch on a nice friendly site. 👍
Quote: Originally posted by lidds0 on 13/5/2023
We were planning on heading for France tomorrow but the weather forecast gives widespread rain over the next fortnight, with temperatures lower than in the UK.
They clearly need the rain as drought conditions have been declared.
We're postponing our departure. Has anyone else changed their plans because of the weather conditions?
We did, about the mid-1990s. Heading for Italy, with our caravan, on our overnight stop we saw the weather forecast. Huge storms forecast over Italy, with 'natural disasters' a real possibility, so at the bottom of the Rhone Valley we turned right instead of left, and went to Spain instead. We were intending to go to Lake Garda (nothing booked, as we never did) but instead went to Cambrils Park, and had an absolutely great holiday in a fortnight of glorious sunshine. Sadly, the forecast natural disaster did happen and there were many landslides, villages washed away, and many people left homeless.
Another time we were heading for the Dordogne, and saw that the Vezere river was a raging torrent, with brown turgid water and trees being washed downstream. We didn't think it was a good idea to carry on to our planned riverside site on the Dordogne, so we found a nearby overnight site on a hillside to look at alternatives. We saw the best forecast was on the Mediterranean, so headed there instead, and had two weeks on a site by the coast. After two weeks we headed back inland, to the Ardeche to get a bit of canoeing in. The day after we arrived a Dutch rally arrived. They had been stuck, in floods, on our 'proposed' riverside site, for two weeks... and unable to leave the site for much of that time. The remainder they were cleaning up and getting equipment dried out.
Each time we were so glad that we had the flexibility to go elsewhere.
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Météo France still shows widespread rain over the next 15 days, especially from the Loire down to southern France (though these might just be showers?). Let's hope it helps resolve the drought situation over there.
We're heading to Eurotunnel right now. The forecast still isn't amazing but if we can avoid the rain, we'll be very happy. Might head to Brittany first, which will make a change for us as haven't been there in decades!
Who else is there at the moment, and what's the weather like where you are?
When I was in France last week, every reservoir I saw was low on water.
I don't know how they would cope as it is not even June yet!
DK
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We’ve been in France for 2 weeks now. The first week in the north was varied with a cool wind, Chartres site was very boggy having had heavy rain, which we had the day before we crossed. Last week has been warmer, not hot, and mainly dry, except a day in Sommieres when it was wet all day but warm. Now we are heading north again, it’s cooler and mainly dry but cloudy.
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Quote: Originally posted by lidds0 on 23/5/2023
Météo France still shows widespread rain over the next 15 days, especially from the Loire down to southern France (though these might just be showers?). Let's hope it helps resolve the drought situation over there.
We're heading to Eurotunnel right now. The forecast still isn't amazing but if we can avoid the rain, we'll be very happy. Might head to Brittany first, which will make a change for us as haven't been there in decades!
Who else is there at the moment, and what's the weather like where you are?
We crossed yesterday as well. Like you, our thoughts were to head for Brittany in the first instance, as the weather there appears to be better than elsewhere. Just had a look again and the next few days seem to be quite windy, but warm and sunny there. Still deliberating, but it looks like we'll be heading in that directon today.
Happy travels and hope you can avoid the rain, although it is much needed over here of course.
We've decided against Brittany now Ina and are currently heading the Rouen / Evreux / Dreux / Chartres route then will decide...
The weather down towards Bordeaux looks especially good for the next couple of weeks.
The roads are clear, the skies are blue and we've just stopped at a lovely little boulangerie and picked up some of the lightest, most delicious pastries and a crispy baguette.
Well, we're not 100 % sure either now what we have decided is to have a couple of days at Neufchatel, get on our bikes and do some cycling. Then make up our minds. We may still head south instead of west.
Sky was blue but has gone overcast now. We've invested in some nice patisserie on the way too.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Rain Forecast and Drought in France 2023
via mobile 13/5/2023 at 8:03am
what we have decided is to have a couple of days at Neufchatel, get on our bikes and do some cycling. Then make up our minds. We may still head south instead of west.
