Been to the Dordogne for the past 2 years the last 2 weeks in August and had 1 night of rain, not a storm just light rain. The rest of the time was hot and sunny but if it got humid enough I suppose you could get the odd thunderstorm.
If you go to http://uk.weather.com/
and choose 'climate' you can see typical weather stats by the month for a town/city etc. which is good for trends. The 'local' button does a 10 day forecast which I find pretty reliable.
Alison
We have done Dordogne every august for last 7 years [not as sad as it sounds because we do go other places too]. I suggest you are likely, on average, to SEE a thunderstorm once or twice a week - but 1/2 the time they are a long way off and you can sit out and enjoy the lightshow. We didn't see one at all last year - the kids were really disappointed. Having said that when we have been elsewhere - Loire, Auvergne, Royan, Isle d'Oleron, Biscarosse, St Jean de Monts and Costa Brava we have not had a noticeably lower rate of electric storms.
This info relates to the last 2 weeks of August - perhaps thats why it costs much less - but the sea and the rivers are at their warmest then too.
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Sorry, I didn't want to put you off, we went about four/five years ago, and we had storms virtually every evening/night - torrential rain which flooded our tent on a terraced pitch. I am sure that was unusual ... we are very unlucky with the weather, once went to Rio and it rained for 9 days - unheard of they said!!!!!!!!
Amazing how much Rio can look like Bournemouth in the rain.
I would just go for it - the Lot is really really lovely though, just an hour further down and much less touristy - beautiful! (only had the one storm when we went there so must be good.
Friend went to Dominican Republic last year - He had a tropical storm and a huricane in the 2 weeks away
Summer 2003 was superb on the Dordogne, I thought 2004 was not too clever until I saw what had happened in Boscastle [even made french news] then it didn't look too bad at all. Last year the weather was perfect- dry, unbroken blue sky and too hot hot a couple of hours mid day.
You do get the odd storm in SW France usually at night with lightning & torrential rain but its very localised so you have to be very unlucky to be right underneath it--there is always a warning from Meteo France & a responsible campsite will pass the info onto you--the weather in SW France referred to in '02 was very unusual---
------------- Every day should be a holiday!
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Experienced bad thunder storms in the region same time as jakks360, almost put me off camping for good but speaking to locals that was the worst weather in France for 60 years!!!
Global warming or shifting axis? Well who cares got back in the saddle just try and stop me now!!!!!!
A french friend says that for much of France after 15th August you get thunderstoms. This is why the French take their holidays in July/early August. We've found this advice to be correct, but it's never as bad as they say. If you're French then it may seem like bad weather, but to us English it just seems normal. Don't worry about it too much. You will get worse weather in the second half of August, but not bad enough to put you off going to any particular region!.
We were there for two weeks (last two) in August 2003 on a site just outside Bergerac " camping près du lac", and had excellent camping weather with one night of rain which didn't bother us at all
Jennie
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Which ever part of France we have been to between June and September you get thunderstorms when it gets humid the pressure builds up and "bang" same as here really. Its normal weather patterns in hot weather in europe- can't be avoided.
We have been to the Lot in 2003 and Dordogne in 2004 and 2005 - all for last 2 or 3 weeks in August. Like this country, high temperature build up can lead to summer thunder storms which in my humble opinion are much more spectacular on the continent. They can be welcome in freshening up the air. In 2 weeks in 2003 we had 1 night of thunder and lightning, in 3 weeks 2004 nothing and in 3 weeks in 2005 a couple of nights rain and 1 thunder and lightning show. Of course it is so warm that within an hour or two you can't see it has rained before.
Would I worry about and let it put me off - nah. We are off to Dordogne again for 3 1/2 weeks in Jul this year - to finish off seeing all the things we haven't been able to fit in previously . Only going earlier cos the kids have finished exams and it fits with my work plans otherwise it would have been Aug again.
WOW! Once again I am amazed by the quality of advice from members of this site - thank you so much for your comments. jakks360 you havent put me off - you have led me to a wealth of knowledge, thankyou!
I was originally heading for Dordogne end of July but now have found it is much cheaper for the last 2 weeks in August - so thankyou everyone for your help.
I'm sure we'll all meet again in another post, but bye and bon chance for now!
Last two weeks of aug are cheaper AND less crowded because the french have gone back to work. Queues for attractions will be shorter, parking easier etc. Rental of static mobile homes is much less too BUT beware SOME sites that rely mainly on french custom start to reduce services -
August/dordogne does not have a monopoloy on thunder - check out the Lot - Isolated thunder forecast for 8 of the next 10 days of June
Cahors
http://fr.weather.com/weather/local/FRXX0022?letter=C
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: DORDOGNE STORMS AUGUST
