Extreme Temperatures
France has declared a national emergency after one-third wine production has been lost to rare spring frosts.
French Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie hyperbolically described the crisis as "probably the greatest agricultural catastrophe of the beginning of the 21st century" this week, and the government declared an "agricultural emergency".
An early bout of warm weather encouraged vines and fruit trees to blossom early, only for a sudden cold snap to nip them in the bud. The Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône and Loire Valleys and Provence have all been affected.
The damage has been estimated at €2 billion (£1.7 billion) in projected lost sales this year — on top of €1 billion in exports lost last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Comment: Sky News Australia has some real journalists!
That's the good news. The bad news is, we're entering an ice age. Its effects will likely be felt within the coming year, and its devastating consequences over the next 3-5 years.
See also:
- Record-low temperature of -20°C in Slovenia as multiple century-old extreme cold records broken across Europe
- Super-cold thunderstorm sets temperature record, scientists note increase in last 20 years
- Historic Arctic cold blast hits Europe: Damaging frost and snow expected across most of continent
- Over two million Texans lose power during winter storm Uri, rolling blackouts implemented as record cold strains grid to maximum
- Spain breaks coldest temperature record AGAIN at -35.8C, just a day after new one set
- Global cooling to replace warming trend that started 4,000 years ago - Chinese scientist
- Professor Valentina Zharkova explains and confirms why a "Super" Grand Solar Minimum is upon us
NWS said the slow-moving spring storm from the south brought "bands of snow" to southern and central Wyoming beginning Wednesday morning.
Fremont County saw the heaviest snowfall accumulations, with 12 inches in Lander and 12.1 inches in Riverton.
Thermopolis in Hot Springs County got 8.5 inches, and parts of Lincoln County got 10.
Another winter storm system is expected to move into Wyoming starting Sunday night, bringing near record lows on Monday.
The Guardia Civil traffic department also urged people not to head to the mountains to see the snow because of the traffic problems which this causes.
The unsettled weather is expected to continue throughout the weekend.

A girl runs through a watering fountain cooling herself during a warm day near the Kremlin Wall in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, April 13, 2021. Warm weather led to a temperature record in the Russian capital.
On Tuesday, the high temperature in Moscow, Russia's capital and largest city, surged to 22.6 C (73 F), making it the highest temperature on April 13 in at least 140 years of observations, Reuters reported.
On Wednesday, another record was set as the temperature rose to 22 C (72 F). This broke the previous record of 20.8 (69.4 F) last reached in 1962, according to Russia's Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring.
High temperatures in Moscow in the lower 20s C (lower 70s F) typically occur during the beginning of June.
The records were broken amid a stretch of warmth that took hold of a large portion of western Russia.
"Temperatures across a large portion of western and central Russia have been running above normal since about April 11," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Rob Richards.
The warmth on the region peaked from April 12 to April 14, with high temperatures 6-13 degrees C (10-20 degrees F) above normal.
Comment: Last month northern European Russia experienced record cold.
Meanwhile earlier this month a record low temperature of -20°C was reported in Slovenia - just 6 days after record heat!

As the snow tapers off around Colorado Friday morning, it leaves behind some roads that are proving treacherous or difficult for drivers.
At 6 a.m., Xcel Energy reported about 6,400 customers without power across Colorado.
About 3,400 of those are in the Denver metro area.
The stork is a symbol of Central Europe. Their population numbers several thousand individuals. Each spring, these majestic large birds make a long journey from tropical Africa. But sometimes they arrive at the wrong time ...
During these April days, Germany, the Czech Republic and Poland were covered with snow. The height of freshly fallen snow reaches 10-15 cm (4 to 6 inches).
One Lake Tahoe ski resort is reporting up to a foot of new snow Wednesday morning while it was hit and miss at others that are still open.
Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe received anywhere from 10-12 inches of fresh snow, Northstar California received 8 inches as the North Shore received the heaviest precipitation.
The snowfall that started on Tuesday continued overnight as the cold front and the stormy wind brought together 30 cm of snow in some settlements of Bakony.
Observers measured a snow thickness of 29 centimeters in Zirc and 24 cm in Tés. The unexpected weather has caused traffic disruptions in many parts of the country.












Comment: See also: French winemakers count cost of 'worst frost in decades'