The weather forecast for the first month of the new year is known. Here’s what awaits us, week by week.
The month of January 2024 is shaping up with varied and contrasting climatic prospects. After an exceptionally warm fall in 2023, the hottest recorded since 1900, this new year promises to be marked by significant weather phenomena.
The first week of January 2024 will be marked by particularly humid weather. Heavy rainfall is expected, particularly on the western slopes of the reliefs, extending from Brittany to Hauts-de-France. This period could see rainfall accumulations equivalent to two weeks to a month of normal rainfall, with averages ranging from 70 to over 100 mm. These conditions considerably increase the risk of flooding in regions already affected by previous rainy episodes. Despite initially high temperatures, we will observe a gradual drop towards seasonal norms. The drop in the snow level between 800 and 1200 meters on the massifs should also be notable.
The following week, a notable change in the weather takes shape with the arrival of drier and significantly colder weather. A strong high pressure forecast over the British Isles will cause the air to dry and cool. Despite predominant sunshine, certain regions, particularly in the east, could experience persistent gray weather. Temperatures will drop below normal, with almost widespread morning frosts and slightly positive temperatures in the afternoon. This cold, particularly marked in the mountains, will favor the conservation of snow and the production of artificial snow in mid-altitude resorts.
From mid-January, the anticyclonic blockage should give way to new disturbances from the west. Although less intense than those of the first week, these rains could cause new reactions in waterways. Snow will appear in the mid-mountains, offering good prospects for ski resorts as the winter holidays approach. Temperatures, for their part, will rise significantly, approaching seasonal norms.
The last week of January 2024 promises to be slightly disrupted with more frequent rains in the west. The Mediterranean region will remain relatively spared from this precipitation, accentuating drought conditions, particularly in the Gulf of Lion. A gradual warm-up will set in, bringing a certain softness without excess.
This month of January 2024, according to weather forecast from La Chaîne Météo, should therefore be close to seasonal norms. Abundant or regular precipitation, while presenting the risk of flooding, will help provide a substantial snow cover for winter sports resorts.