Overview
- Météo‑France, which forecast a sharp drop starting Wednesday, warns of night frosts into Friday and Saturday with local falls of about 10°C.
- After 61 straight days above seasonal norms, agroclimatologist Serge Zaka says early flowering has lengthened the frost‑risk window for many crops, with some models hinting at a possible return in early April.
- Model projections shared by Zaka indicate average losses ranging from 10% to 80% depending on how advanced plants are and how exposed the plots sit.
- Risk is highest for early‑budding vines in the Jura and parts of Champagne, for apples, apricots and cherries in the Saône plain and nearby Mediterranean hills, and for kiwifruit in the south‑west.
- Growers in affected areas are preparing with wind machines paired with heaters, anti‑frost candles, sprinklers, and crop covers, while home gardeners are urged to pause new planting, re‑cover tender plants, insulate pots, and mulch soil for a few days.