La Bise

When we first moved to Geneva, we were told the winters were mild except when la bise was blowing. With my utterly imperfect understanding of all things to do with the french language, I heard 'The Bees'. Which amounts to about the same thing in many ways! Not really.... but whatever you call it, it is cold. These swans seemed to not mind much though.


The official word on La Bise: from web link

The Bise is a cold, vigourous and persistent north or north-easterly wind blowing from the alpine mountains, that affects Switzerland and eastern France. The Bise is especially prominent in the Geneva area at the southwestern end of Lac Leman (Lake Geneva).

Anticyclones over NW or central Europe push the air through the gap this lake was formed in. Freed from the friction when over the water and funneled at the narrow end of the lake, it may reach 6-7 Bft. Being continental, it is a dry and, in winter especially, cold wind bringing snow and hail.

The Bise whips up the surface waters of Lake Geneva and in winter the sea spray encases the nearby vegetation under thick ice. During summer the dry Bise is a perfect laundry drier finding its refelection in the local folklore: "avec la bise, lave ta chemise", when the bise blows, wash your shirt.