The presence of the Atlantic, only a hundred kilometres west creates the seasonal changes. The temperatures in winter are fairly mild 4°C on average. However cold winters have been known with temperatures down to minus 18°C in January 1985 – and snow falls can be abundant and last for several days. In summer the temperatures can easily reach 30°C with 41.5°C recorded in August 2003. The average summer daily temperature however, is around 20°C, which is close to the Mediterranean summer temperature. Violent local storms are rare however strong rain in autumn and at the end of winter can cause flooding.

Let us lend an ear to the local language in Gencéen, From Poitou Saintongeais:

• quore bruno arrive Pissa et la len : when the large cloud arrives the rain is not far
• quore la trie suble den la forchasse ol ét sine de vent : lorsque la grive musicienne siffle dans l’enfourchure de l’arbre, c’est signe de vent prochain

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