Loire weather May-July: 2012 compared to 2011

Yes it has been wet recently in 2012 – 450mm so far this year

Certainly 2012 is proving to be a decidedly challenging year weatherwise with frost, hail and plenty of rain making mildew a constant threat. The difficulties are borne out by the 2012 climate figures for May, June and July. These are from the weather station in Tours and taken from the very good Météo France site. These three months of 2012 are compared with those of 2011. Last year, although the latter part of June and July were disappointed after the very fine and hot start to the growing season were not as wet as 2012. The average temperatures in 2011 for May and June were considerably higher than this year, while July 2012 edged ahead of 2011. Both were well down on the average maximum temperature for July.

May

2012

Average max temperature:     20.2˚ C
Total sunshine hours for month:  238 
Total sunshine hours for year:  817
Rainfall in May                          78.1 mm
Total rainfall Jan-May               258 mm

2011

Average max temperature:     22.5˚ C
Total sunshine hours for month:  289
Total sunshine hours for year:  890
Rainfall in May                          14.9 mm
Total rainfall Jan-May               128 mm

Averages for May

(All averages based on 1971 - 2000, except hours of sunshine which are based on 1991 - 2000)

Average maximum temperature:   19.1˚C
Hours of sunshine:                      206
Rainfall:                                      62.3 mm
Average rainfall: Jan-May            290.4 mm


June

2012

Average max temperature:     22.0˚ C
Total sunshine hours for month: 183
Total sunshine hours Jan to June: 1000
Rainfall in June                         106.7 mm (15 days of rain - average of 7)
Total rainfall Jan-June               365 mm

2011
Average max temperature:     23.6˚C
Total sunshine hours for month:  227
Total sunshine hours Jan-June: 1118
Rainfall in June                          53.4 mm
Total rainfall Jan-June               181 mm

Averages for June

(All averages based on 1971 - 2000, except hours of sunshine which are based on 1991 - 2000)

Average maximum temperature:  22.8˚C
Hours of sunshine:                     228
Rainfall:                                      46.1 mm
Average rainfall Jan-June:           336.5 mm

Certainly 2012 was wet in June but not a wet as the record year of 1963 when 134.7 mm of rain fell on Tours.

July

2012

Average max temperature:     24.0˚ C
Total sunshine hours for month:208
Total sunshine hours Jan to June: 1208
Rainfall in July                          95.2 mm (21.4 on 14th July)
Total rainfall-July               459.9 mm

2011

Average max temperature:     23.6˚ C
Total sunshine hours for month: 218
Total sunshine hours Jan to June: 1335
Rainfall in July                          82.2 mm
Total rainfall Jan-July              313 mm

Averages for July

(All averages based on 1971 - 2000, except hours of sunshine which are based on 1991 - 2000)

Average maximum temperature:  25.5˚C
Hours of sunshine:                     239
Rainfall:                                      55.5 mm
Average rainfall Jan-July:           389.7 mm

April 2012 compared to April 2011

March 2012 compared to March 2011

April 2012 compared weatherwise to April 2011

A show of pansies from April 2011

April 2012 has shown that no two years are the same. After a dry and warm March, this April has seen the year go into reverse as well as striking a number of areas with the much feared frost on the night of 16th-17th. April 2012 has been wet and relatively cold certainly in comparison to last year with an average maximum temperature of only 13.8˚C compared to a sweltering 20˚C last year. Rainfall at 122mm is over twice the average and nearly 100mms more than it was last year. 

2012

Average max temperature:         13.8˚C

Total sunshine hours for month: 149

Total sunshine hours for year:    569

Rainfall in April                         122mm (only 14mm to 16th April)

Total rainfall: 2012 Jan-April:   180mm

2011

Average max temperature:          20˚C
Total sunshine hours for month:  185
Total sunshine hours for year:     315
Rainfall in April:                          23mm
Total rainfall: 2012 Jan-April:    113mm


Averages for April 
(All averages based on 1971 - 2000, except hours of sunshine which are based on 1991 - 2000)

Average maximum temperature:  14.5˚C
Hours of sunshine:                     166
Rainfall:                                     55.5mm

Rainfall for the first four months: 233.5mm

See post here on March comparison. 

Stats from Méteo France – weather station at Tours. 

Weather stats for September 2009

James Marchais (Epeigné-les-Bois) – transferring cagets (small picking boxes) onto a lrager trailer. Brilliant blue sky was a feature of much of the latter part of September. (Photo: CRM)

Here are some stats for rainfall, temperature and hours of sunshine for September from four weather centres:

Bourges

Rainfall: 56.6mm – average for last 30 years: 62.6mm

Temperatures: 22.7˚ average max – average for last 30 years: 21.6˚

Sunshine: 219 hours – average for last 30 years 168 hours. (Record total of sunshine hours 284 in 1997)

Tours

Rainfall: 29.8mm – average for last 30 years: 55.8mm

Temperatures: 22.7˚ average max – average for last 30 years: 21.5˚

Sunshine: 214 hours – average for last 30 years 168 hours. (Record total of sunshine hours 291 in 1997)

Angers

Rainfall: 37.8mm – average for last 30 years: 54.8mm

Temperatures: 23.0˚ average max – average for last 30 years: 21.7˚

Sunshine: 214 hours – average for last 30 years 165 hours. (Record total of sunshine hours 257 in 1997)

Nantes

Rainfall: 44.1mm – average for last 30 years: 68.2mm

Temperatures: 23.4˚ average max – average for last 30 years: 21.8˚

Sunshine: 233 hours – average for last 30 years 173 hours. (Record total of sunshine hours 276 in 1997)

Confirms that throughout the Loire September 2009 has had less rain, more sunshine and slightly higher maximum temperatures than the average. The month has not, however, broken any records.

Details from Météo France