Behind the Météo 17 Facebook page, followed by nearly 45,000 subscribers, is Lucas Gallard, a young man from Saintais whose passion for meteorology dates back to childhood. His interest was sparked during the winters of 2010-2011, marked by several snowfall events. From the age of 10, he could read weather maps and began recording his observations in 2012. After launching a first Facebook group in 2020, he created Météo 17 in November 2023, following storms Ciaran and Domingos.
Lucas Gallard explains that Charente-Maritime has unique meteorological particularities due to its geographical diversity, including the coast, marshes, varied terrain, and valleys. He notes that in winter, the temperature difference between two points in the department can exceed 10 °C in the morning, and in summer, thunderstorms can erupt inland while the coast remains sunny. The cold valleys of Saintonge and Haute-Saintonge particularly fascinate him for their rapid temperature drops.
To prepare his daily forecasts, Lucas uses several meteorological models available online, notably on Météociel, which calculate various atmospheric parameters. He then compares this data to refine his bulletins. To make his explanations more accessible, he films himself and adds maps and animations, spending between 45 minutes and an hour preparing the next day's bulletin for ordinary weather.
Among the memorable events, Lucas recalls the snowfall of January 6, 2026, when he measured 29 centimeters of snow in Saintes, as well as the extreme heat of summer 2026, with temperatures reaching 44 °C near Saintes. During exceptional weather events, he monitors the situation in real-time on his Facebook and Instagram pages to inform netizens.
At 22, Lucas Gallard handles this visibility well, appreciating the usefulness of his work for many people. He also presents the forecasts for the southern part of the department every weekend on Radio Pons and volunteers for the HistorIC section of the Infoclimat association. He plans to install a weather station in Saint-Léger to supplement readings in that area.
Regarding the upcoming winter in Charente-Maritime, current forecasts indicate a rather mild and wet late autumn and early winter, with frequent precipitation and a risk of flooding between December and February. For the end of winter, models suggest colder conditions from February onwards, followed by drier weather as spring approaches. However, Lucas reminds us that seasonal forecasts only provide a general trend.
