Most of the snow has fallen above 1,500 metres. Authorities in Hautes-Pyrénées have closed several mountain roads, including the peaks of Soulor, Aubisque and Spandelles.
More snow is expected at even lower altitudes today, with the rain-snow line dropping to 1,100 metres overall. Between 10-30 cm is expected in the Jura, northern Alps, and the Massif Central.
Guillaume Woznica, a forecast expert at news channel LCI, said: “This quantity of snow has been seen in the past in September, but it is still [rare enough to be] remarkable.”
He compared the early snowfall to a similar situation seen in 2007, but said: “But this time, we have seen a clear dropping of temperatures and more snowfall. Only around 20cm of snow on average fell 13 years ago.”
Un plongeon dans l’#automne pour la plaine mais un avant-goût d’#hiver pour la montagne ! La #neige tombe à gros flocons depuis la nuit dernière sur les #Alpes et #Pyrénées avec parfois 30 cm à 2500 m. C’est inédit depuis 2007 à cette période de l’année ! @LCI (images Courchevel) pic.twitter.com/mUHNpIg4UC
— Guillaume Woznica (@GWoznica) September 25, 2020
The snow has been described as particularly surprising, given that autumn has only just started and summer was especially hot.
Online, users began to post photos of the early snowfall in ski stations across France.
+30 cm ce matin, à @courchevel (photo de Nova Collie-1850m) et aux Arcs (photo de Seb Fayolle-2000m) en ce mois de septembre ...
— Thomas Blanchard (@ThomasBlanchar2) September 26, 2020
L’épisode de #neige a tenu ses promesses. pic.twitter.com/kxAzYUQxwj
Bonjour, bon weekend à vous tous ! !! ☕️
— Chantal ANDRE ♦️ (@sherlockscot) September 26, 2020
La neige a fait son retour dans les Pyrénées !
Les Angles - Pyrénées Orientales ❄️❄️ pic.twitter.com/n8aCEGbbKu
#neige au #pourtalet 1800 équipements obligatoires #bearn #pyrenees @HotelPourtalet @Meteo_Pyrenees pic.twitter.com/3sAKWL4Mp0
— Météo Pyrénées (@Meteo_Pyrenees) September 25, 2020
20cm environ à #fontromeu vers 1850m #324eltemps #pyreneesorientales #neige @Meteo_Pyrenees pic.twitter.com/8o3Ib5s7Y0
— Météo Pyrénées (@Meteo_Pyrenees) September 26, 2020
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