[Update April 1 at 16:35 – Pas-de-Calais, Somme, Seine-Maritime, Eure, Calvados, Nord and Orne are no longer on orange alert, while Tarn, Savoie and both Corsican departments have been upgraded to yellow to orange. This means that there are now 19 departments on an orange weather warning.]
Some 22 French departments have now been placed under an orange snow and ice warning, as snowfall last night (March 31) spread across the country.
When time makes jokes:
it snows on April 1 @Paris!#snow #snow #April Fool #April Fools 2022 #April Fool pic.twitter.com/V43lObzdin— Muriel FRANCIUS (@mfrancius) April 1, 2022
The departments concerned are: Ain, Allier, Ariège, Aveyron, Calvados, Cantal, Corrèze, Creuse, Eure, Haute-Garonne, Isère, Loire, Haute-Loire, Nord, Orne, Pas-de-Calais, Puy-de-Dôme , Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées, Seine-Maritime, Somme and Haute-Vienne.
The national meteorological service Météo France indicates that the expected snowfall is “heavy enough to disrupt traffic and certain economic activities” and “infrequent at this time of year”.
Thury-Harcourt under the snow ❄️ in 2021 #thuryharcourt #lehom #suissenormande #Calvados #Normandy #BeautifulFrance pic.twitter.com/x9s8YQebbY
— Morvan Brittany Normandy (@morvan_bzh) March 31, 2022
Hauts-de-France and Normandy already under the snow
Snow is already falling – and sticking – in Hauts-de-France and Normandy. There are about 1cm on the ground in Abbeville (Somme) and more on the heights.
Along the northwest coast, precipitation falls mainly in the form of sleet.
Temperatures are still above zero in the Alps and the Jura this morning but it is already snowing on the Massif Central and the Pyrenees above 500m.
❄⛄The #snow appeared at the end of the night in the #Pays Basque interior, hills of Ainhice-Mongelos (260m high). At times with large focons, to be continued… T° close to 0°. #Pyrenees #EuskalHerria #LowerNavarre @Weather_Pyrenees @ttottepelette @KeraunosObs pic.twitter.com/oaByUdDvux
– Sky Landscape Nature (@Ciel_Landscape) April 1, 2022
Snow storms are expected to continue today (April 1) in Hauts-de-France and Normandy. They will last today and tomorrow through the Massif Central, the Pyrenees and the Alps.
Conditions should improve, starting from the east, by late morning in the northern half of the country. Today’s snowfall is expected to see 3-5cm, or a total of 10cm including last night’s precipitation.
In the Alps on the other hand, snow will start to fall above 500m this morning. The weather will clear up in the afternoon but deteriorate again in the evening, continuing into tomorrow.
Several centimeters of snow should fall below in Ain and Isère, and up to 20cm will cover the Chartreuse and Vercors massifs.
On the Massif Central, the snowfall will also ease after this morning, but will then return in the evening and until tomorrow. On the lower terrains, local residents can expect 5-10 cm, while up to 25 cm will fall above 800 m.
❄ Saint-Étienne station is covered in snow this morning of April 1st with already some delays noted. It is snowing in the south and east of the Massif Central. pic.twitter.com/v0IwGzJunb
— Weather Express (@WeatherExpress) April 1, 2022
There will be heavy snowfall in the Pyrenees this evening, with 2-5cm forecast to fall over low ground, 20-25cm at 800-1000m and 15-30cm, even 50cm in some places, from 1500 to 1800m.
Access Pas de la Casa ❄️ mandatory equipment
Overall it snows up to the valleys from 500m caution Patrick Baudrit via INFO / Road / Weather Pas de la Casa pic.twitter.com/eVSXH1tkgA— Weather Pyrenees (@Meteo_Pyrenees) April 1, 2022
The orange alert will last at least until 06:00 tomorrow morning.
66 other departments are also on yellow alert for snow and ice. At these locations, snow may fall and stick to the ground, but no significant disruption is expected. This will be the case, for example, in the Paris region.
The #snow is present on #Lyon ! pic.twitter.com/CU0G9zzLx6
– Lyon Weather (@LyonMeteo69) April 1, 2022
Should I do something?
In areas under orange vigilance, snowfall could disrupt public transport and road travel, increasing the risk of accidents.
Residents are advised to keep abreast of weather conditions and limit travel if possible.
If they need to drive, they should take food and blankets with them in the car and make sure it has the proper winter gear.
You can find out more about the Meteo France website.
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