More weather misery

With fresh snow on the ground from a front that went through overnight, the temperature has finally gone up above freezing for the first time in while. I just looked outside and water is dripping everywhere. I don't know how the roads are.

We have friends coming over for lunch today. We had thought about going up to Blois for lunch in a restaurant, but we changed our minds when it started snowing again yesterday. We'll just stay here and watch the thaw happen.

Brume and brouillard are both fog,
and givrant means freezing or frosty.

This was the weather map a couple of days ago. They were again predicting freezing fog — brouillard givrant — for our region, but it didn't happen that time.

Yesterday a weather warning for snow and freezing rain was issued in the morning. A big part of France was under what they call « vigilance orange ». They were asking people not to go out unless absolutely necessary. The roads and sidewalks were too slippery. This morning the warning area is north of us.

The « Vigilance Orange » yesterday morning
was put into effect for the coming 24 hours.

At least we didn't get pluie verglaçante — freezing rain. I was afraid I might find the electricity off and the trees and wires bent to the ground this morning, under the weight of ice. We're lucky that the weather front brought in some relatively mild air.

The news says the recent cold spell has been relatively short and not nearly as severe as some that France experienced in the 1960s and 1970s. But it will have economic consequences. The mild French climate allows farmers to grow winter crops outdoors and others in greenhouses. But the cold weather has damaged much of this year's crop, and we can expect prices to go up, news reports say.

After the thaw, we'll see if our own winter crops have survived.

Bad weather has contributed to the ongoing economic slowdown by hindering truck traffic on the autoroutes and train traffic as well. People have been staying at home rather than risking life and limb to go to work.

But now meterologists are starting to say we will probably have an exceptionally beautiful, hot summer in 2010. I think they are just trying to bolster the morale of the population.