The north of the country is experiencing a very severe cold spell. Here are the updated forecasts.
The essential
25 departments are this morning placed on orange alert for snow and ice by Météo France. “Since the start of the snowfall there have been 2 to 5 cm in Normandy, with peaks locally of 10 cm; 5 to 10 cm in the north of the country with peaks locally of 15 cm, and 1 to 4 cm in the Paris region,” indicates the institute.
As indicated by The Weather Channel this Thursday, the cold crosses France, and tends to progress towards the east. “Depression Irene is moving away towards Switzerland at the same time as an anticyclone is developing over the British Isles, channeling a cold northern flow. In this context, the disturbance associated with the depression is bringing snowfall this morning at low altitude in the Grand-Est, which are sliding towards Franche-Comté this afternoon. Between Normandy and Hauts-de-France up to the Paris basin, it is the ice which this morning can hamper traffic. Indeed, the refreezing occurring at the end of the night after snowfall can make the roads slippery on the secondary network.
09:06 – Public transport very disrupted this Thursday morning
With the snowfall hitting the north of France this Thursday morning, many transport services are disrupted or even stopped. In Reims, the Citura company indicates on its website that the network is at a standstill “due to snow”. Neither buses nor trams operate in the Reims metropolitan area. In Normandy, transport is also very disrupted. The ilévia Bus company in Lille announces that “several lines [de bus] are not running” and others are diverted. No disruption, however, on the Lille metro and tram networks. In Rouen, most bus lines are diverted or shortened and a few others are interrupted. The tram is operating normally. In the city of Amiens, no buses are running “until further notice” as the company Ametis announced on its website.
08:52 – It’s blocking the road in the north and in Île-de-France
11,120 kilometers of traffic jams accumulated throughout France at 8 a.m. were recorded by Bison Futé. The difficulties on the road are concentrated in the Nord department and in particular on the A21 and the A2, and in Pas-de-Calais. In the Paris region, it is advisable “as far as possible” to postpone travel this Thursday morning, taking into account the slowdowns and traffic conditions. Only one in four buses circulates in the Paris region.
08:34 – Snow in Lorraine, the disturbance moves to the east
The Weather Channel indicates that “snowfall continues in Champagne and the Ardennes” this Thursday morning. “They are quickly reaching Lorraine. The regions of Nancy and Metz are soon impacted. In the north, it is the ice which is impacting the secondary network between Normandy, Hauts-de-France and north of Paris” .
After having touched the Paris region, the falls of #snow concern Champagne and the Ardennes this morning. They win the #Lorraine. From Hauts-de-France to Normandy to the Paris region, the weather is drier but the #black ice is very important. pic.twitter.com/7vmnDqaNIs
— La Chaîne Météo (@lachainemeteo) January 18, 2024
08:14 – What are the forecasts according to Météo Consult?
The Weather Channel gives these precise indications for this day of Thursday January 18: “The disturbance evacuates Ile-de-France and Picardy, with snow-covered roads and traffic conditions are complicated on secondary road networks and non-public roads. treated. The disturbance is quite active in the Grand Est region, from the Ardennes to the north of Lorraine, with traffic conditions which can be delicate on the secondary networks. This afternoon, the disturbance slides towards the south, giving snow in the plains in Franche-Comté to the north of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The quantities are less than in the northern regions, even if the snow holds on the first heights above Besançon or Saint-Etienne.”
01/17/24 – 11:29 p.m. – The salt spreaders begin their shift
END OF LIVE – While around twenty departments, from Normandy to Hauts-de-France via Île-de-France, will remain on orange vigilance until tomorrow, the salt spreaders have already taken up service in Dieppe (Normandy). “We are going to work until 8 a.m. tomorrow morning,” explains Johny, driver of a salt spreader, on BFMTV. “Colleagues will take over if the road is not in good condition.” As a reminder, the civil security spokesperson asked to “avoid” non-obligatory travel in the coming hours.
01/17/24 – 11:02 p.m. – Île-de-France still spared by snow
In its 10:30 p.m. bulletin, Météo-France indicated that “the precipitation is mainly in the form of snow in the departments of Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Somme, Seine-Maritime, northern Oise of the Marne and the Ardennes. Freezing rain was observed “on a small strip to the south of these departments”. Vigilance is essential. Île-de-France is spared for the moment because the temperatures are still positive.
01/17/24 – 10:33 p.m. – End of snow and ice vigilance for four departments
Bas-Rhin, Moselle, Meurthe-et-Moselle and Meuse are no longer under snow-ice vigilance. Météo-France reminds that “the end of precipitation will not necessarily mean the end of slippery conditions”.
01/17/24 – 10:01 p.m. – Beauvais covered in a white coat
Place Jeanne-Hachette, in the center of Beauvais, has been tinged with white since 8:45 p.m. Between 3 and 5 cm of snow are expected overnight. Météo-France urges residents to exercise caution.
01/17/24 – 9:28 p.m. – Avoid non-obligatory travel
The spokesperson for civil security, Sébastien Paletti, recalled BFMTV the safety rules to follow during this snowy episode. He invites every French person to “avoid traveling if they don’t have to”. “All Civil Security services are mobilized,” said the spokesperson. He also recommended that everyone make sure they have “food, provisions, something to be warm in case they are stuck” during a compulsory trip.