France freezes but unseasonably warm spell soon on way

People across France have woken to temperatures as cold as -7C today, even if the snowfall has ended.

Morning temperatures were -6C in Amiens, -5C in Alençon, and as far south as Tours they were still below freezing (-2C).

Overnight temperatures were even colder in the north, reaching -10C in Le Touquet and -7C in Lille. Near Arras (Pas-de-Calais) a record-breaking -14.6C was felt.

This is due to the bitter cold winds of depression Irène coming from the north, which are no longer opposed by the warmer, more humid winds from the Mediterranean.

The collision of these two winds caused this week’s snow, and now that the Mediterranean winds have weakened, further snowfall is not expected despite the cold.

The winds of Irène are set to dominate almost all of France, except the far south-east, until Saturday evening.

Next week however will see the arrival of different winds from the Atlantic with temperatures far above seasonal averages expected.

Arriving in Brittany on Saturday night, the warm – but wet – winds will drive temperatures up across the country.

Cities in the north where temperatures failed to rise above 0C for many days may see around 14C by the middle of next week.

A freezing Friday?

France still has to deal with the cold winds of Irène before temperatures improve, and cautions remain in place over weather conditions.

There are 75 departments facing tier-two warnings for neige-verglas (snowy/icy road conditions), as despite the lack of snowfall, roads are still slippery with ice.

Read more: How to see road updates in France and tips for driving in snow and ice

Departments in the north (and a handful in the south) have also temporarily reactivated grand froid plans to help those most vulnerable to the heat.

Two departments (Orne and Calvados) are facing heightened tier-three orange warnings for river flooding.

In the east, temperatures will struggle to rise above 0C, although in the north it will be between 2C and 5C. Coastal areas may see higher temperatures, up to 7C in Normandy and 8C in Brittany.

Cold continues on Saturday before drastic Sunday change

Temperatures on Saturday (January 20) are predicted to be lower than today.

Meteorologists expect morning temperatures of -8C in Amiens, -6C in Metz, and -5C in Vichy on Saturday. Overnight they could be even colder, with more records potentially broken.

As far south as Bordeaux temperatures may be below freezing at the start of the weekend, a far cry from the middle of the week when thermometers read 18C in the south-west.

Temperatures will again rise throughout the day, although will not hit double figures anywhere except Nice.

During the evening, they will stay above 0C almost everywhere, and may even rise to 11C in Brittany as the warm Atlantic winds begin to arrive.

The winds will push inland on Sunday, mostly in the north-west and western coast, leading to double-figure temperatures, although they will also bring persistent rain.

Monday (January 22) will see the humid winds impact almost all of France, with temperatures in Paris potentially reaching 13C, and 15C on Wednesday.

Early predictions are that the ‘warm spell’ will last at least until next Thursday (January 25).

You can keep up with weather warnings on the official Météo France website, up to 48 hours in advance.

Related articles

Duck Cold! French phrases to use for chilly weather

Cold in France: tips on what to eat and how to prepare home