French weather forecast for Christmas week: where will there be snow?

Temperatures will drop to nearly 5C colder this Christmas week - and snow is expected in several areas but not in significant quantities away from mountain areas.

Continual snowfall at altitudes of 800m and above is forecast but there is a strong chance of a dusting of snow at lower altitudes in the west and centre on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Strong anticyclone winds from Scandinavia will contribute to the cold weather, but also cause instability along the Mediterranean.

A weather pattern known as ‘la bise’, a cool dry wind blowing east to north-east, will be present from Christmas day onwards.

Monday December 22 

There will be heavy rain across the south and the risk of storms around Marseille and Montpellier. 

Rain will get weaker as it moves inland but may reach as far as Lyon, and in Aurillac and central regions some snow is forecast. 

Outside of the Mediterranean however it will be a mostly calm, if somewhat grey day. 

Highs of around 9C in the north and up to 14C in the south despite the rain are forecast, although later in the evening considerably chilly temperatures along the English Channel and the north hint at the incoming cold front. 

In the south, several heightened weather warnings are in place for snowy roads/black ice (neige-verglas), heavy rain, and rising river levels, largely due to strong rains over the weekend.

Tuesday December 23 

Rain will continue in the south-east, with possible showers in Toulouse and Occitanie, although rain will not penetrate any further north than this. 

Skies south of the Loire will remain grey, but in the north are set to be sunny with only wispy clouds. 

Temperatures will begin to drop, with highs of around 8C in most of the north but only around 4C in Lille, 2C in the east, and 10C in the south. 

The south-east will continue to see highs of around 14C despite the rain but these higher temperatures are isolated to coastal areas. 

Snow will fall at 800m and above in the Alps, Massif Central, and Pyrénées. 

Wednesday December 24 

Showers in the south-east and potentially south-west in the Pays Basque are forecast, but unlikely to bring significant rainfall. 

Elsewhere it will be mostly sunny, although temperatures will drop considerably in the north, with highs of around 3C-4C around Paris, 5C in Brittany, 1C in Lille and the east, and 5C - 6C as far south as Lyon and Bordeaux.

In the south, highs of around 9C-10C are forecast and up to 13C in the south-east. 

Snow will fall at around 700m and above in the mountains. 

Later in the evening, a disturbance moving inland from the Atlantic may combine with the cold front to bring a dusting of snow. If snow does fall it is likely to be in the central, northern, and eastern areas, where evening temperatures will be very low.

However, it is not set to be more than a dusting – and is unlikely to settle. 

Thursday December 25 

The calm weather will continue across most of France, although rain is still forecast in the south-east. 

A light dusting of snow in the centre and west is possible, but will again be unlikely to settle. 

Skies will be clear and sun prominent across most of France, although temperatures will be very cold. 

Highs of around 1C - 2C in much of the north, 3C in Brittany, and 6C in most of the south are expected, with the south-east the only place to see temperatures of 10C or above. 

Christmas Day is set to see the lowest average temperatures of the 2025 - 2026 winter so far, with temperatures nearly 5C colder than seasonal averages. 

While temperatures will be colder than average until at least the start of January, Christmas Day will be the coldest of them all. 

Friday December 26 

Conditions will be largely similar to Thursday, with noticeable early frost expected in most areas. 

Further rainfall along the entire Mediterranean, and grey skies along the coast, are the only disturbances forecast.

Strong winds will make it feel chillier than the rest of the week, even if temperatures rise slightly from Christmas Day (recorded temperatures do not take additional effects such as wind and sun into consideration). 

Conditions will remain similar across the weekend, although on Sunday there is a risk of incoming rain from the English Channel.