Overview
- Météo-France reported a national mean temperature of -3.9°C at 06:00 on January 1, marking the coldest New Year night since 2002.
- Twenty-six departments were placed under yellow “grand froid” vigilance on Thursday, signaling heightened caution for severe cold.
- Local lows plunged widely, from -7.7°C at Cognac and -4.5°C at Cazaux to extreme mountain values such as -16.1°C at Ristolas in the Hautes-Alpes.
- Forecasters flag frequent freezing fog and slick roads, with particularly difficult driving conditions in parts of the northern third of the country.
- La Chaîne Météo expects the chill to endure and likely intensify through the weekend and early next week, with localized snow in the East on Friday and possibly in Rhône-Alpes on Saturday.