The Vendee region of France benefits from its own microclimate enjoying around 2,600 hours of sunshine per year, almost as many hours as the South of France. This compares to typical 1,490 hours of sun for London! By its geographical situation, facing the Atlantic, the Vendée enjoys a moderate climate, without excess, because of a strong maritime influence. The oceanic disruptions go most often by the north of the department (via Brittany and the British Islands) and the masses of hot and humid air from the south to southwest generally have a less strong stormy activity than on Aquitaine. The dominant winds vary from the southwest to the northwest and violent storms are relatively rare.