Freak hail-storms wreak havoc across Charente

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Wine growers and farmers are counting the cost this week after violent storms struck on Tuesday with little warning.

According to the chamber of agriculture, at least 1,500 hectares of vines were damaged, with many areas experiencing between 60% and 100% loss, with around 20 communes suffering the brunt of the giant hail-stones.

In Rouillac and Vaux-Rouillac, elected officials and wine growers estimate that almost 100% of the 830-850 hectares of wine growing land has been affected.

The storms have come as a blow to farmers, many of whom will suffer financial hardship, with harvests expected to be poor.  However, wine-growers are pledging to save what they can, treating the damaged vines with sulphate and hoping for a dry period to avoid the onset of mildew and fungus.

Meteo France issued warnings to farmers at 2pm yesterday, but with the storms striking before 6pm there was little time to act.

Elsewhere there was flooding in La Rochefoucauld, with pompiers from surrounding villages being drafted in to help deal with the volume of calls.  Further warnings were issued today for Dordogne, Lot et Garonne, and areas of Charente limousine.

You can see readers photos of the storms by checking out the SudOuest website.

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