Heat Wave warning France, August 2023

[JabbaPapa]

Several Départements have an Orange heatwave alert currently, but looking at the maps and the predictions, whilst several Caminos are impacted, it's the Le Puy and Vézelay routes which will be hardest hit, so do be careful pilgrims, look for cold water from locals in the villages, and Bon Chemin !!

https://vigilance.meteofrance.fr/fr

 

[thejoker]

It's nice and warm on the Camino today, though just another 2 or 3 degrees would be really lovely.

 

[dick bird]

It's nice and warm on the Camino today, though just another 2 or 3 degrees would be really lovely.

Not funny. If the authorities in France are issuing alerts about extreme weather, we should take them seriously. They know what they are talking about.

 

[WalkingInGers]

Not funny. If the authorities in France are issuing alerts about extreme weather, we should take them seriously. They know what they are talking about.

Temperatures are expected between 34 (93,2F) and 42C (108F) in France today and for most of the week.

 

[Former member 104756]

Not funny. If the authorities in France are issuing alerts about extreme weather, we should take them seriously. They know what they are talking about.

Yes please be careful. I’m in Lectoure on the Le Puy Way. High 30s by mid afternoon. And climbing. Have seen many exhausted pilgrims in recent days. If you’re walking, best to start early and shorter days if possible.

 

[WalkingInGers]

The walk from Lectoure to Condom some shade, the operating word being « some ».

 

[Former member 104756]

The walk from Lectoure to Condom some shade, the operating word being « some ».

True, some - but certainly not a lot. We walk between Lectoure and Condom regularly. And the stages immediately before Lectoure also have 'some' but not very much shade. Always good to take a break in the shade, but eventually if you are between accommodations you have to keep going.

 

[DaysWeSpend]

We’re in Varaire (going to Cahors tomorrow) and we’re currently melting. Can’t sleep at night since there’s no AC and not even a fan.

We’ve been starting at 6:30 am. Today we did 28 km by 1 pm. Not fun to go that fast.

 

[Former member 104756]

@DaysWeSpend In Lectoure, further along from Cahors, the already hot days are set to get even hotter until Thursday then a much cooler change, fingers crossed. Wonder if you have the time to walk short distances or even take a few days off. Take care out there.

 

[KDub]

Lots of water, electrolytes, and take a siesta during the hottest part of the day. I recommend using an umbrella for extra shade while walking. Start early, walk late if you need to. Take care pilgrims!

 

[DaysWeSpend]

@DaysWeSpend In Lectoure, further along from Cahors, the already hot days are set to get even hotter until Thursday then a much cooler change, fingers crossed. Wonder if you have the time to walk short distances or even take a few days off. Take care out there.

Ooof. We’re all walking into the heat until Friday or so. After tomorrow, we have some shorter days planned. I’ve got some electrolytes from the pharmacy (like pedialite). Literally my life saver right now.

You take care, too!

 

[Former member 104756]

You take care, too!

Thank you, but we're not walking at the moment. We are living in Lectoure so staying out of the heat. Best wishes for coming days and feel free to be in touch if you're stopping in Lectoure.

 

[WalkingInGers]

Thank you, but we're not walking at the moment. We are living in Lectoure so staying out of the heat. Best wishes for coming days and feel free to be in touch if you're stopping in Lectoure.

As you can see, I live in the area…if you need anything just write…

 

[Former member 104756]

As you can see, I live in the area…if you need anything just write…

Thank you, I also live in le Gers.

 

[DaysWeSpend]

Thank you, but we're not walking at the moment. We are living in Lectoure so staying out of the heat. Best wishes for coming days and feel free to be in touch if you're stopping in Lectoure.

Thanks so much! I’ll send you a message when we’re closer to Lectoure.

 

[thomryng]

I'm in Saugues right now, and it has been brutal. I'm walking with a hiking umbrella, which helps a little. Whenever I introduce myself to pilgrims at the end of the day, about half of them say, "ah yes, Thom with the umbrella."

 

[JabbaPapa]

I'm in Saugues right now, and it has been brutal. I'm walking with a hiking umbrella, which helps a little.

It's getting to be blimming hot down here too !!

Don't be shy !! Ask any locals that you meet for cool or cold water, and permission to rest in their shade.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Today and tomorrow are likely to be the worst of it, particularly on the starting sections of the Le Puy route, as the Haute-Loire is now in red alert.

BTW these dog days also seem to be quite bad in Italy, so the pilgrims on the Roman routes are liable to be suffering too.

 

[BrianLCrabtree]

Thank you, but we're not walking at the moment. We are living in Lectoure so staying out of the heat. Best wishes for coming days and feel free to be in touch if you're stopping in Lectoure.

I’ll be overnighting in Lectoure 31 August. Better weather, I hope.

 

[WalkingInGers]

i am away from Gers at the moment and come home Saturday…apparently the weather is for cold,relatively speaking, and rain starting Friday and Saturday.

Home - meteoblue

weather close to you

content.meteoblue.com

 

[WalkingInGers]

Just saw that MeteoFrance has just placed 19 additional departments on weather red alert including Gers.

The departments now include:
Ain, Loire, Isère, Lozère, Gard, Vaucluse, Hérault, Aveyron, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Aude, Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, Haute-Garonne, Gers, already red alert since yesterday for l'Ardèche, la Drôme, la Haute-Loire et Rhône.
Stay safe.

 

[WalkingInGers]

 

[JabbaPapa]

Just saw that MeteoFrance has just placed 19 additional departments on weather red alert including Gers.

The departments now include:
Ain, Loire, Isère, Lozère, Gard, Vaucluse, Hérault, Aveyron, Tarn, Tarn-et-Garonne, Aude, Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, Haute-Garonne, Gers, already red alert since yesterday for l'Ardèche, la Drôme, la Haute-Loire et Rhône.
Stay safe.

Ouch !!

I should point out that the link I gave in OP is live and dynamic, and links to the current situation any and every day.

That red alert picture is tomorrow's.

 

[WalkingInGers]

Red alerts for tomorrow, Thursday, August 24.
publiée le 23 août 2023 à 06h31 (heure métropole)
valable le 24 août 2023 de 00h00 à minuit (heure métropole)

 

[BrianLCrabtree]

Red alerts for tomorrow, Thursday, August 24.
publiée le 23 août 2023 à 06h31 (heure métropole)
valable le 24 août 2023 de 00h00 à minuit (heure métropole)

I walked Rocamadour to Labastide-Murat today with no problems. Lovely countryside. The usual recommendations apply: start early, drink plenty. For me, it’s important to keep moving. Too many breaks add up to more time in the heat at the end. Of course, take a break when you need it. I left Rocamadour at 6:00 am and arrived Labastide at 11:20 am. Temp was 88F/31C when I arrived. An hour later after sitting on a park bench in the shade to eat lunch, it was 94F/34C. Now at 5:30 pm it is 100F/38C.

 

[WalkingInGers]

I am driving home to Gers on Friday from eastern France and several weather applications are talking of a drop of 20C in temperatures for Friday-Saturday due to thunderstorms.
We will see..we all have to be careful walking/Hiking especially with heat.

 

[BrianLCrabtree]

Red alerts for tomorrow, Thursday, August 24.
publiée le 23 août 2023 à 06h31 (heure métropole)
valable le 24 août 2023 de 00h00 à minuit (heure métropole)

I walked Rocamadour to Labastide-Murat today with no problems. Lovely countryside. The usual recommendations apply: start early, drink plenty. For me, it’s important to keep moving. Too many breaks add up to more time in the heat at the end. Of course, take a break when you need it. I left Rocamadour at 6:00 am and arrived Labastide at 11:20 am. Temp was 88F/31C when I arrived. An hour later after sitting on a park bench in the shade to eat lunch, it was 94F/34C. Now at 5:30 pm it is 100F/38C.

 

[JabbaPapa]

It should cool down over the weekend.

 

[Bradypus]

It should cool down over the weekend.

Glad to hear it. I should be arriving in SJPDP on Monday. Just looked at the current temperature from a nearby weather station - 37C at the moment with 39C forecast for later!

 

[JabbaPapa]

I should be arriving in SJPDP on Monday.

Buen Camino compañero !!

 

[WalkingInGers]

Hail storms predicted…

 

[thejoker]

Wore my wind jacket for only the second time today. The walk into SdC was suddenly surprisingly nippy mid morning today, despite a very warm sweaty early morning eucalyptus walk to Amenal and up to the airport. The sudden drop in temperature from the now acclimatized warm humid early morning to a fresh, breezy and dare I say it 'cold' mid morning and early afternoon really was a bit of a shock after weeks of high temperatures. Strangely, it's turned a bit warmer again! Galicia!

 

[JabbaPapa]

It's beginning to be a little less hot down here on the French Riviera too, and the red alerts in France are all gone, and tomorrow the orange alerts will be gone too.

 

[WalkingInGers]

Last night at the Pic de Midi, photo taken this morning at sunup at Pic du Midi.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Rained here -- and got to make use of my big black pilgrim's cape !!

 

[WalkingInGers]

Poured here and the weather predictions for the First three days of the week seem strange, rain, as well, but not complaining. Grass is burned to a crisp.

 

[thomryng]

The heat is back in force this week! Be careful out there.

 

[JabbaPapa]

I think there'll be another week to 10 days of it, but not as bad as it was.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Well, back to orange heat alerts tomorrow, but they will be hitting pilgrims on the Paris and Vézelay Ways.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Hooray !! It's cooled down !!

Down here, there was a proper rainstorm.