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Snow and ice alerts in place across most of northern France
Drivers are urged to take extra care and to opt for public transport where possible
Thirty-three departments in the northern half of France are under orange weather alerts for snow and black ice today (December 14), as this week’s cold temperatures continue.
The departments are: Côtes-d’Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine, Morbihan, Manche, Calvados, Orne, Mayenne, Sarthe, Eure-et-Loire, Eure, Seine-Maritime, Oise, Val d’Oise, Paris and its surrounding departments, Loiret, Seine-et-Marne, Aisne, Marne, Aube, Yonne, Meuse, Haute-Marne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Moselle, Vosges, Territoire de Belfort, Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin.
The surrounding departments are under yellow alerts for snow and ice. Further information can be found on the Météo France website.
Read also: Seven French cold weather phrases to see you through winter
This morning, the national forecaster has stated that the south of France is seeing noticeably milder temperatures, while cold air lingers over the north, with temperatures sitting around 0C or below.
“The risk of icy conditions is high across all of the departments under an orange alert,” it said, adding that the nature of the precipitation forecast for today is not yet certain.
“Icy rain should dominate in the south of the area under orange alert, while snow should dominate in the north, with around 2-5cm accumulating on the group, with a bit more in some areas, potentially up to 10cm.”
Anne Lavaud of the Prévention routière road safety organisation has told Franceinfo that people needing to go out today should “keep further away from other cars” and “reduce their speed”.
She said that cyclists should choose “a different mode of transport”.
The police prefecture of Ile-de-France also called on people in Ile-de-France to work from home today if possible and to take public transport rather than driving if not.
Several departments, including Haut-Rhin and Bas-Rhin did not run school buses this morning.
In Paris, 20% of flights departing from Charles de Gaulle have been cancelled today, while at Orly the figure is 25%.
Read more: France snow: hundreds of flights cancelled, three die in road crashes
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