Météo France confirms a “remarkable” cold episode in France from January 8. A cold “wave” is possible. What does that mean in concrete terms? What temperatures?
“Wintery and cold weather will set in for a good part of next week” announcement Meteo France on January 3, 2024. Monday January 8 and Tuesday January 9, the maximums should struggle to exceed 0°C over a good half of the country. “With the forecast temperatures, without speaking a priori of a real cold snap, due to lack of sufficient intensity, the national thermal indicator could pass at the beginning of next week below 0°C, which has not happened for almost 6 years (February 2018), accentuating the side remarkable of this cold episode to come.”
What is the meteorological definition of a cold snap?
A cold snap is a lasting episode (at least 3 days across the country or 2 days across a region) and geographically extended by coldprecise Meteo France. For an episode to be identified on a national scale, the national average temperature must fall below a certain threshold (-2°C) for at least one day. The cold snap brings together the following events:
- Cold peak : short-term cold (1 to 2 days), presenting a danger to the health of precarious, homeless or isolated populations, due to their living or working conditions; it can be associated with the yellow weather alert level;
- Persistent cold spell : period of cold which lasts over time, constituting a danger for precarious populations, homeless or isolated, due to their living or working conditions; it can be associated with the yellow weather alert level
- Extreme cold : period of intense cold characterized by very low minimum felt temperatures (order of magnitude lower than -18°C). This period constitutes a danger for precarious, homeless or isolated populations, due to their living or working conditions, and potentially for the entire exposed population; it is associated with the orange weather alert level;
- Extreme cold: period of proven, exceptional, very intense and lasting cold, extended, which leads to the appearance of collateral effects in different sectors (stoppage of certain activities, etc.); it is associated with the red weather alert level.
The body suffers when it is very cold. To protect it, always keep the following tips in mind:
- Limit outdoor activities if you cannot tolerate the cold well.
- Limit physical exertion outside even if you are in good health.
- If you have to go out, cover your head warmly with a hat, put on a scarf to cover the mouth (this will prevent chapped lips), gloves for the hands and wear warm, non-slip shoes to prevent falls.
Be particularly vigilant for infants and children. Avoid placing your infant in a baby carrier, which could compress their lower limbs and cause frostbite. It is preferable that your child is carried in the arms, a pram or a stroller so that he can move regularly to warm up. At home, do not overload wood stoves and auxiliary heaters, in order to avoid fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. Additional heaters using fuel should be avoided for the same reason.