The situation is counterintuitive: mild weather will cause snowfall. Over the weekend, France will be hit by depression from west to east, according to Météo France forecasts. This will go hand in hand with the increase in temperature. However, ahead of rainfall, if it comes into contact with cold temperatures, a layer of snow will form.
This snowfall will affect a wide area from Hauts-de-France to Limousin via Île-de-France. In a dangerous phenomenon forecast bulletin posted online at midday Friday, Météo France anticipates that the Paris region will be one of the sectors most affected by snow.
Paris and its surroundings will start to be affected on Saturday evening, first at Yvelines. The flakes will develop slowly. It is on this evening that the entire Île-de-France will be concerned. An orange alert (level 3 of 4) is not completely excluded between Saturday night and Sunday morning, especially due to icy conditions.
This animation provided by the special site Extreme Météo allows you to visualize the expected development of snowfall. Snow appears red and rain appears blue. The schedule can be adjusted by a few hours on Saturday evenings.
Throughout the episode, several centimeters may accumulate. As the map created by La Chaîne Météo shows, on the plain, the axis running from the Belgian border to the south of Île-de-France is the most exposed. The thickness can reach 2cm to 5cm for the most affected places such as the border between the Oise and Normandy.
Saturday: cold morning and the arrival of disturbances
The most important thing at the start of the day is the temperature level. On the plains, temperatures are usually around -5°C, slightly cooler near the Breton and Mediterranean coasts. In the North East region, the temperature can be even lower and reach around -7°C/-8°C.
In the North West region, rain will fall from the start of the day. Gradually this region will expand towards the east of the country. In the afternoon (map below), rainfall affected much of the northwest.
Maximum temperatures in the north will range between 0 and 2°C/3°C in areas that are still dry. With the arrival of the disturbance, temperatures elsewhere will be two or three degrees warmer. At the tip of Breton, temperatures can even exceed 10°C. In the south, temperatures will be between 0 and just above 5°C. Only the most southeastern and southwestern sectors of the country will exceed 10°C. On average, temperatures will be between 6°C and 8°C below seasonal norms. The temperature will be even lower than in January, the coldest time of the year.
Saturday night and nights from Saturday to Sunday
The evening will be marked by the appearance of snowflakes from the north to Limousin. In some areas, rain and sleet will mix with snow. The temperature difference between the front and back of this snow front will be about ten degrees. The risk of icing will increase.
Snowfall shifted towards the east of France overnight. Risk of icy conditions spreading to more areas. Rain is almost widespread.
Sunday: rain and rise in thermometer
It will rain almost everywhere and most of the day. Areas south of the Alps, in the morning, then only the edge of the Mediterranean will see the sun. Some rays may also break through in the afternoon at Finistère and near the Channel coast.
The difference is often noticeable compared to Saturday in terms of maximum temperatures. In the western part of the country the temperature ranges from 10°C to around twelve degrees. To the east, temperatures will approach 5°C, but still higher than the previous day. Near the Mediterranean, temperatures will also reach 10°C to 12°C.
Early next week: still rainy, seasonal temperatures
Monday and Tuesday should be two days marked by regular rainfall. A few thunderstorms are possible in the Southwest. Maximum temperatures are generally expected to be between 5°C and 10°C, approaching or even reaching levels corresponding to seasonal values. Thermometers will exceed 10°C in the country’s southernmost regions.
