Although summer started last week with broken heat records, winter is reminiscent of this week under the influence of strong tides of polar winds. The 70-year-old broke monthly cold records for three consecutive days between Tuesday and Thursday.

The worst cold season in at least thirty years …

We are now experiencing the worst cold in 30 years. It has a short duration of 3 days but affects most areas. In 2003, the cold season lasted for 6 days but the intensity of the cold was a little more intense and the cold was somewhat generalized.

Why is it so cold this week?

Extreme cold in most parts of the country late at night and early in the morning is the result of three main factors:

– An air mass of Arctic descent reached the northern part of France on Monday afternoon and evening, attacking the southern part of the country on Tuesday afternoon. This polar air remained stagnant in France until Thursday.

– Nights with clear skies often associated with the advent of dry air behind the cold ground of unrest.

– A northerly wind that weakens at night and collects cold air in the lower layers of the atmosphere.

Cold records were broken at 10% of weather stations on Tuesday morning

Sixty cold records were broken on the morning of April 6 at 591 stations on the Metavo-France monitoring network. Here are the most important monthly cold records:

– Buas (60): -6.9 C beats -5.4 ° C in April 2017

– Chattanooga (28): -6.3 ° C, beating -6 ° C in 1978

– Orleans (45): -5.4 C, 1938 -4.5 ° C

-Pitheviers (45): -5 C 1986 -3.8 C

– Evron (53): -5 ° C hits -4.1 at C in 2006

– Chalon-Sir-Zain (71): -4.9 ° C beat -4.4 ° C in 2003

– Evrooks (27): -4.2 C, beating -5 C in 1975

New monthly cold records hit Wednesday morning

This Wednesday morning most of the country is affected by the air mass of polar origin. Thus far the snow has reached the south-western parts. In the south-east, the affected areas of the Mistral and North winds escape the negative temperature because the wind prevents cold air from stagnating near the ground. On the other hand, snow affects the bottom of the valley or areas sheltered from the wind.

Here are some monthly cold records observed this Wednesday morning:

St.-Private (19): -8,6. C.

Saint-Martin-du-Mont (21): -5.6. C.

Begar (40): -5.6. Sec

Chalon-Sir-Sa: -5.4. C.

Nexon (87): -5,2. C.

Gordon (46): -4.8. Sec

Dle (39): – 4,2. C.

Brickbeck (50): -3,3. C.

Wendes Montalivet: -3,2. C.

Fence (35): -2,8. C.

Orthus (64): -2.4. Sec

Sealans (83): -1,4. C.

On Thursday mornings, fresh frosts can sometimes be severe, but Fridays can be very cold mornings as temperatures rise sharply.

Several monthly cold logs were broken this Thursday morning in the southeast and mid-east

This Thursday morning, the central and eastern and south-eastern parts of the country recorded the highest number of monthly cold records. The night was particularly clear in these areas, which, due to the lack of wind, favored radiation and thermal inversion. So the cold was severe in the plains and in the usual “cold holes”.

Here are some monthly records from this Thursday morning:

Tigness (73): -15,9. Sec

Barcelona (04): -11.4. C.

St. Cristol (84): -9.9. Sec

Millau-Larzak (12): -8. C.

Saint-Etienne (42): -7.4. Sec

Salanches – La Charlotte (74): -6.7. C.

Montclus (30): -5,5. C.

Cistern (04): -5.2. C.

Macon (71): -4,4. Sec

Salon-de-Provence (13): -4.3. C.

Avignon (84): -4.2. C.

Bormes-les-Mimosas (83): -4. C.

Obagne (13): -3.7. Sec

Orange (84): -3.2. C.

Names – Garners (30): -0.7. C.

Significant damage to fruit trees and vines

If cold snaps in early April are not uncommon, Which occurs after the temperature records (last week the temperature is close to 25 degrees Celsius for 3 days) creates a problem. The plants started quickly and most of the fruit trees were in bloom so they were affected by the spring frosts.

Here is the frost sensitivity limit of some flowering plants (according to a study by the Institute of Agricultural Technology on frost and hail). :

– Cherry Tree: -1.7. C.

– Plum Tree: -2. C.

– Pear Tree: -2. C.

– Apple Tree: -2. C.

– Apricot tree: -2.2. C.

– Fish: -2.2. C.

This Wednesday morning a wine grower from Charant indicated damage to these vineyards.

Damage confirmed pic.twitter.com/a62LKw8hnR

– OlivierViticognac (OlivierViticogn1) April 7, 2021

Young beets frozen in the fields of the Paris Basin

The situation is such that the beetroot trees in the Paris Basin and in the center are exposed to the weather disaster. Young beets sown in March, rising from the ground following last week’s heat, do not face the extreme cold of Tuesday and Wednesday.

# Read North # Loyalty – In my 44-year career, I have never seen the severity of snow damage #Beats Practically everything should be the same (repayable) because all plants darken and wither. What do you think ITB_CVLetIDF ? pic.twitter.com/2jRah50wdt

– Leluk Jean Mark (mjmleluc) April 6, 2021

What are the ways to fight freezing?

Do not hesitate in your garden Protect Cover most frozen plants, shrubs or crops with plastic sheeting and winter cover or mulch crops located at ground level.

L ‘Sprinkle or sprinkle with water At very low flow rates, frost damage can be prevented because the air saturated with moisture emits heat, thus lowering the temperature. An ice shell may form on the surface of the plant, but the plant maintains a good temperature.

The Heater : The heated system placed between the vines is used extensively by wine growers. These keep a layer of soft air close to the ground and keep the temperature above 0 C.

The Ventilation The use of blowers or wind turbines limits the drop in temperature by avoiding the stagnation of the coldest air near the ground.