It is time to take stock after the violent storms that hit much of France last week. No fewer than 57 departments were placed under orange weather alert on Wednesday. In many places, the thunderstorms were accompanied by violent winds (gusts of more than 100 km/h recorded in some departments) and hail (sometimes the size of a tennis ball). Two people died, a 59-year-old man in Mayenne and a 12-year-old child in Tarn-et-Garonne, and 17 people were injured. Material damage was extensive, with 100,000 homes without power, some roads cut off, and even flooding in Paris.
© VigiMétéoFrance
Map issued on Wednesday at 4 pm
Damage in the fruit and vegetable sector is currently being assessed.
Walnuts: "Trees flattened by hail"
According to Fabien Joffre, head of the professional union for walnuts, walnut kernels, and walnut oil from Perigord, it is still too early to assess the situation. "In some places, we have seen trees lying down, gusts of wind, and hail." The areas that are the worst affected include Nadaillac, Proissans, Sarlat, and Belvès. "For the time being, everyone is busy dealing with the most urgent problems, as some farms have lost power."
One producer (walnuts, poultry, and pigs) in the Dordogne, interviewed by France Bleu, claimed to have lost 95% of his crop due to the hailstorm, and was expecting a harvest of 3 tons instead of 40-50 tons. "There might be only 5% of walnuts left on the trees."
© Twitter
Derecho: Gusts in excess of 90 km/h, over an area of more than 400 km
Keraunos, the French observatory for thunderstorms and tornadoes
Apples and pears: "End of rows affected" according to initial information
As far as apple and pear orchards are concerned, the National Apple Pear Association claims that it currently has "no visibility in terms of damage." The first reports to date indicate hail damage at the end of rows, with orchards protected by nets, in Tarn-et-Garonne, Maine-et-Loire, and Sarthe.
© ANPP
Kiwis: "We are getting better at controlling the risk of hail"
François Lafitte, chairman of the SCAAP Kiwis of France, has been reassuring. "We are getting better at controlling the risk of hail, with young orchards almost automatically protected by hail nets. Today, apart from some old orchards, most kiwi orchards are under protection." In Peyrehorade (Landes), very large hailstones fell, causing mainly material damage (windscreens, roofing...). In Villeneuve-sur-Lot (Lot-et-Garonne), the damage was also very limited thanks to the use of nets, so "there were no notable effects," according to the chairman. "To date, we have not identified any major problems, but we still have to interview producers."
As for peaches and apricots, the production seems to have escaped the bad weather.
