Gironde’s 2018 Sunshine Shortfall
- Residents of Bordeaux enjoyed a taste of spring with temperatures reaching 24 degrees Celsius, but the pleasant weather is expected to be short-lived. After months of gloomy weather,...
- Frédéric Pluviaud, regional forecasting chief at Météo France bordeaux, anticipates a shift.
- The past winter was exceptionally wet, with rainfall totals not seen in Gironde for decades.
brief Spring Warmth Yields to Rainy Weekend in Bordeaux
Table of Contents
- brief Spring Warmth Yields to Rainy Weekend in Bordeaux
- Spring Warmth in Bordeaux: The Short-Lived Sunshine and Rainy Forecast
- What’s the current weather situation in Bordeaux?
- What is the weather forecast for this weekend?
- How has the weather been in Bordeaux recently?
- How much rain fell during the winter?
- Was November drier than usual?
- Which months saw above-average precipitation after November?
- How rainy was January specifically?
- Were there any temperature fluctuations in Bordeaux during this period?
- What were the temperatures like in February?
- How much sunshine did Bordeaux receive during this period?
- were sunshine hours lower than usual?
- How many sunshine hours were recorded in january?
- How did sunshine hours compare in other locations in Gironde?
- Did sunshine improve in March?
- Is there more sunshine on the coast?
- In Summary: Key Weather Data for Bordeaux
- What can we expect next week?
Residents of Bordeaux enjoyed a taste of spring with temperatures reaching 24 degrees Celsius, but the pleasant weather is expected to be short-lived. After months of gloomy weather, this sunny interlude offers a brief respite before rain returns.
Frédéric Pluviaud, regional forecasting chief at Météo France bordeaux, anticipates a shift. “It is a day of transition with a mass of soft air that goes back from Spain.The sweetness still seems there on Saturday while staying in seasonal normal but with very rainy weather. Sunday seems very sullen and fresher,” Pluviaud said. Umbrellas and raincoats will be necessary again this weekend.
A Historically Rainy Winter
The past winter was exceptionally wet, with rainfall totals not seen in Gironde for decades. Cindy Souan, also a regional forecast chief at Météo France, noted the severity of the season. “It is the second rainy winter since 1957. Between December and March, there has been a cumulative precipitation of 496 mm while normal is 307 mm, or 61 % more,” said Souan. The winter of 1979 remains the wettest on record, with 533 mm of rainfall.
While November experienced slightly drier conditions, with 65 mm of rainfall compared to the average of 100 mm (calculated over a 30-year period), the subsequent four months saw above-average precipitation. January was especially wet, accumulating 162 mm of rain, nearly double the normal 83 mm, making it the sixth rainiest January since 1957.
Temperature Fluctuations
January not only brought significant rainfall but also unusually mild temperatures. The average temperature in Bordeaux was 9.4 degrees Celsius, compared to the typical 6.6 degrees. However, February saw a return to colder conditions. “In February, we were on the other hand between 1.5 and 3 degrees below seasonal normal,” according to Météo France. Saint-Émilion, for example, recorded an average February temperature of 4.7 degrees Celsius, lower than the usual 6.9 degrees.
Record Low Sunshine Hours
The persistent bad weather also resulted in a significant lack of sunshine. While November 2017 had a surplus of sunshine, with 151 hours recorded compared to the normal 94 hours in Bordeaux, the period from December to March was exceptionally gloomy. January saw the lowest amount of sunshine. “In Bordeaux, there were only 34 hours of sunshine while normal is 96 hours. ItS almost three times less,” Souan observed. Other locations in Gironde experienced similar trends, with Saint-Émilion recording 37 hours of sunshine, Pauillac 38 hours, and Belin-Béliet 53 hours.
March saw a slight improvement, with Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion recording 139 hours of sunshine, compared to the normal 170 hours. Belin-Béliet recorded 128 hours,and Pauillac 137 hours. “There is a little more sunshine on the coast than inside the land but the data remain generally homogeneous,” Pluviaud said.
With clouds expected to return, residents should prepare for more showers next week.
Spring Warmth in Bordeaux: The Short-Lived Sunshine and Rainy Forecast
What’s the current weather situation in Bordeaux?
Residents of Bordeaux recently enjoyed a taste of spring, with temperatures reaching 24 degrees Celsius. However, this pleasant weather is expected to be short-lived. According to Frédéric Pluviaud, regional forecasting chief at Météo France Bordeaux, the sunny interlude is a brief respite before rain returns.
What is the weather forecast for this weekend?
The forecast for the weekend in Bordeaux indicates a shift towards rain. Saturday will likely have rainy weather, while Sunday is expected to be cooler and more overcast. Umbrellas and raincoats will be necessary again.
How has the weather been in Bordeaux recently?
The recent winter in bordeaux, especially from December to March, was exceptionally wet. Rainfall totals were not seen in decades. Cindy Souan, also a regional forecast chief at Météo France, noted that this was the second rainiest winter since 1957.
How much rain fell during the winter?
Between December and March, there was a cumulative precipitation of 496 mm, which is 61% more than the average of 307 mm. The wettest winter on record was in 1979, with 533 mm of rainfall.
Was November drier than usual?
Yes, November experienced slightly drier conditions with 65 mm of rainfall compared to the 30-year average of 100 mm.
Which months saw above-average precipitation after November?
the four months following November saw above-average precipitation. January was especially wet.
How rainy was January specifically?
January was particularly wet, accumulating 162 mm of rain, nearly double the normal 83 mm.This made it the sixth rainiest January as 1957.
Were there any temperature fluctuations in Bordeaux during this period?
Yes, January was unusually mild, with an average temperature of 9.4 degrees Celsius, compared to the typical 6.6 degrees. However, February saw a return to colder conditions.
What were the temperatures like in February?
February saw a return to colder conditions. According to Météo France, temperatures were between 1.5 and 3 degrees below the seasonal normal.for exmaple, Saint-Émilion recorded an average February temperature of 4.7 degrees Celsius, lower than the usual 6.9 degrees.
How much sunshine did Bordeaux receive during this period?
The persistent bad weather resulted in a meaningful lack of sunshine.
were sunshine hours lower than usual?
Yes. The period from December to March was exceptionally gloomy.
How many sunshine hours were recorded in january?
In Bordeaux, there were only 34 hours of sunshine in January, while the normal is 96 hours. This is almost three times less than usual.
How did sunshine hours compare in other locations in Gironde?
Other locations in the gironde area experienced similar trends. Here’s a breakdown:
Saint-Émilion: 37 hours of sunshine
Pauillac: 38 hours
* Belin-Béliet: 53 hours
Did sunshine improve in March?
Yes, March saw a slight advancement.Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion recorded 139 hours of sunshine compared to the normal 170 hours. Belin-Béliet recorded 128 hours, and Pauillac had 137 hours.
Is there more sunshine on the coast?
Yes. According to Pluviaud, there tends to be a little more sunshine on the coast than inland, although the data remains generally homogeneous.
In Summary: Key Weather Data for Bordeaux
Here’s a quick overview of key weather data from the provided information:
| Month/Period | Rainfall (mm) | Sunshine Hours (Bordeaux) | Temperature Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter (Dec-Mar) | 496 (Cumulative), much higher than the average | Substantially below average | January: Unusually mild, February: colder than normal |
| november | 65 (Below average) | 151 (Above Average) | N/A |
| january | 162 (Nearly Double average) | 34 (vrey low) | 9.4 °C (Mild) |
| March | N/A | 139 (Some Improvement) | N/A |
What can we expect next week?
With clouds expected to return, residents of Bordeaux should prepare for more showers next week.