It rained. Heavy and long showers around Toulouse and in a large part of the neighboring departments. But can this precipitation reverse the trend after this summer of drought.
First, it should be noted that there were disparities in the distribution of these precipitations. And then in many cases, these rains do not allow all the resources to return to a satisfactory level. But if the accumulations are sometimes important for our neighbors (Météo France announced the equivalent of a month of precipitation in 24 hours in the Basque Country), for us, these are very classic rains for a month of September. And even below average.
Sébastien Gouinaud forecaster at Météo France looks back on the stacks not so important around Toulouse since the beginning of the week. “Around Toulouse, in recent days the highest values have been around 15 millimeters in Muret and Rieumes. In Toulouse itself, we are more between eight and twelve millimeters. We have a rainfall deficit in September 2022 of 10 at 11%. We are at 51 mm of accumulation since the beginning of the month. It is less than a normal month of September. It is an intense rainy phenomenon but not exceptional for a month of September or for the beginning meteorological autumn. Due to the lack of water, this kind of precipitation, which is all in all between weak and moderate but long-lasting, surprises a little bit.” The forecaster also notes that in the Pyrenean Piedmont the deficit is a little larger. We are only at 78% of precipitation compared to normal September.
Watercourse still very low
It should also be noted that Occitania is the most impacted region in France by this low water period 2022. (The low water level corresponds to a low flow, where the height of the watercourse is the lowest.) So in many departments, the water restrictions are still in progress. This is the case of the department of Aveyron which has just extended the bans and in particular:
- vehicle washing, even at professional stations,
- filling swimming pools
- watering lawns, public and private green spaces, pleasure gardens, sports areas of all kinds,
- watering the vegetable gardens between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m.
Restrictions which are still in force in Haute-Garonne.
Rush on water collectors
And these first rains, if we take advantage of them for reserves? In any case, in garden centers and DIY stores, many of you want to buy water collectors. This has actually been the case since the beginning of the summer, but it is continuing this fall. So much so that the resellers are in lack of goods. To the Tarn garden centerGuillaume has never seen this: a real rush on waste collectors. “In the middle of July, in the middle of August, everyone wanted their tank…. The stocks should arrive in the coming days. Customers are waiting and continuing to order some”.
Now customers are forgetting the aesthetic side of these tanks. It was also what held back purchases before. Collectors that still cost between 90 and 250 euros.