Autumn before its time. After the hottest month of July on record, the start of August was rainy, at least in the northern part of France. Coming from the British Isles, the depression, named Patricia by Météo-France, carries with it gusts that can reach 90 km / h in places. Four departments – Manche, Ille-et-Vilaine, Côtes-d’Armor and Finistère – have been placed on orange alert for wave-submersion, faced with the combination of gusts and significant tidal coefficients.
According to Tristan Amm, forecaster at Météo-France, the peak of the depression is expected this Wednesday from 4 p.m. to midnight, before a new disturbance on Saturday and the return of good weather next week.
Le Point: Is this a common weather event this season?
Tristan Amm: It’s unusual but not unheard of. This depression was formed over the British Isles by large temperature variations on the ground that encounter the jet stream, a fast air current located at altitude. Usually it is further north, while the sun brings rather stormy episodes. We do not speak of a storm but of a depression because the average winds are less than 90 km/h.
How long will it last?
The Patricia depression will reach its peak this Wednesday from 4 p.m. to midnight. The Normandy and Île-de-France basins will experience significant rainfall, which should be beneficial for groundwater and soil moisture. It should lose intensity until Saturday. Another very short disturbance is expected on Saturday, before a return to good weather on Sunday.
Is this depression related to climate change?
No, it’s part of the annual variability of the weather. Climate and weather should not be confused. If we observe the temperatures over the long term, we see that there is an upward trend, mainly due to human activities. Nationally, we have 18 months in a row above seasonal normals, 9 of which were 1°C warmer. It may not seem like much, but it causes significant changes in the climate.
