Snow expected across France as temperature drops
Snow is expected to reach most of France in the next couple of days - if it has not arrived already - with 50 departments on yellow alert for snow and ice today.
Large towns including Paris, Strasbourg, Lyon, Lille, Toulouse and even Corsica in the south are expected to be hit by low temperatures between three and five degrees colder than the seasonal average, according to Météo France.
“Yellow” is the lowest weather alert level (one down from “orange” and two down from the critical “red”). It denotes a light risk of adverse weather and warns people to be “alert” to weather changes.
Many areas are expected to see significant snowfall, very cold air, and temperatures more-normally seen in absolute mid-winter around mid-January and February.
Today (Wednesday) is expected to be the beginning of the cold snap, with temperatures lowering even further by Thursday and Friday.
The north east is expected to be the first area affected by snow; followed by Normandy, the central regions and Ile-de-France on Thursday; and then snow on the Belgian border, the Massif Central, and across the Pyrénées.
Even Corsica and Occitanie will see a “light covering of flakes at low altitude”.
The cold is expected to continue into next week, although the weather itself is expected to be less eventful.
Low temperatures are expected to spread towards the Mediterranean, with further areas of Corsica and Provence-Côte d'Azur expected to be hit by rain.
Nighttimes are expected to get colder as the skies clear, with increased likelihood of frost and ice.
