Stormy weather

For the past few days in southern France, cold air descending from Iceland has been colliding with hot air ascending from the Sahara desert. As a consequence the weather in Provence has turned quite nasty with several episodes of violent rainfalls sometimes accompanied by hailstorms. On 4 July, a strong gale blowing from the south caused a small dust storm on the ITER site. Flags had to be lowered and stored in haste and, as it was becoming quite dangerous to use the doors of Headquarters, staff was advised not to leave the building until the storm abated.