Frozen France: January 1868

[Weather-history]

France experienced a severe winter spell during January 1868.

Montpellier: Thick layer of snow at start of month had frozen hard and covered roofs and streets.

Toulouse: Basin of Garonne is one sheet of ice

Lyons: Nearly half of the Rhone frozen over

Rouen: Maritime docks frozen

Honfleur: Temperature fell to 14F, docks and outer part of harbour, frozen over. Enormous ice blocks floated about the bay.

Orleans: The Loire frozen over on left bank, sluggishly flowing on right bank.

The Seine was frozen over in Paris.

Seine was frozen over in Paris in 821 for a month, in 1044, 1067, 1124, 1125, 1205, 1210, 1325, 1407, where it was so cold that many vines and fruit trees were destroyed

1420 where wolves were reported roaming the streets for food

1434 where it began on the 31st December and lasted to the middle of March with 45 days of snow

1570 with three intensely cold months

1608, heavy waggons could traverse the river

1683

1709

1740

1768: large bells of a number of churches cracked from the cold

1784: Snow and ice made many Parisian streets impassable

1799, 1810, 1811, 1812, 1814, 1829, 1838, 1846.

In the UK, the first part of January 1868 was very cold but the second half of the month was much milder.