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France Braces for Deepening Cold Snap as Snow Spreads and Road Plan Is Activated

Forecasters flag Saturday as the coldest point with a risk of freezing rain that could trigger higher alerts.

Overview

  • Météo-France has placed 72 departments under yellow vigilance for snow and ice on Friday, with 27 also under a cold-wave advisory.
  • Snow has already coated mountain massifs and some low-lying areas, including parts of Normandy, Brittany and the Hauts-de-France, with about 20 cm at 1,000 m in Haut-Rhin and 10 cm in the Jura and Vosges.
  • Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot warned motorists of a "fairly complicated" weekend and activated the 2025 winter-road plan, mobilising 7,500 agents, more than 6,000 vehicles and large salt stocks.
  • Météo-France warns an Atlantic disturbance late Saturday could bring temporary snow followed by freezing rain and black ice, with a potential move to orange vigilance in affected regions including the Paris area.
  • Saturday is forecast to be the sharpest cold of the episode, with morning lows near −1°C in Paris and Toulouse and down to −6°C in Nancy, as authorities urge drivers to prepare and follow real-time travel guidance.