Snow alerts for north of France: drivers warned over icy roads

Rain and snow are forecast across the north of France today (January 8), with up to 10cm of snow falling in Normandy. 

State forecaster Météo France has placed five departments in the north on a heightened tier-three orange alert for neige-verglas (snowy and icy roads): 

• Nord

• Pas-de-Calais

• Somme

• Oise

• Seine-Maritime 

These warnings come into place at 15:00 – roughly when snowfall began in the affected departments – and are currently scheduled to last until midday on Thursday (January 9). 

Calvados in Normandy is also facing a heightened tier-three orange warning for river flooding from the Orne river (although further along, in the Orne department itself, warnings are less severe).

Elsewhere, around half of France’s departments, mostly in the north, are facing less severe tier-two yellow warnings for a combination of strong winds, rain, river flooding, storms, and in the Alps, avalanches. 

60 mm of rain in Brittany

Cloudy skies brought rainfall to the Pays de la Loire and Brittany regions, alongside western parts of Normandy.

This rainfall started this morning and has continued to fall in Brittany throughout the day, with up to 60 mm forecast in the Morbihan department. 

There is a risk of soils becoming saturated and further warnings over flooding may follow in the regions.

Snow began falling at around 15:00 in the southern areas of the departments on heightened alert (snow is less likely along coastal areas) and some bordering them, such as Aisne and Eure. 

Forecasts from the middle of the day show it may fall as far east as the Côte-d'Or department by the evening, as the snowfall moves east.

In the lowlands, between 3cm and 5cm will fall, with 10cm at higher elevations.

A mix of snow and rain will then fall in the areas concerned until around midnight.

Currently, Météo France says the snowfall “will be of little consequence” in its daily bulletin and due to temperatures in these areas is likely to melt soon after falling, meaning it will not settle. 

Regardless, the conditions will bring snow and ice to roads in the above departments, as well as elsewhere in the north, requiring drivers to pay attention. 

The risk of black ice after snowfall melts will also be significant.

Read more: 4 tips to stay safe and check icy roads in real-time in France

The conditions are being caused by a conflict between calmer Atlantic winds and bitter cold polar winds taking place in the north of France. 

The polar winds will emerge victorious, dropping temperatures at the end of this week throughout France. 

Read more: French weather outlook January 6 - 10 

The warning level of official alerts put in place by Météo France are subject to change throughout the day. You can keep up to date via local media or through the forecaster’s official website. 

Read more: What to do - and not do - in a red or orange weather alert in France