Storm Caetano arrives in France this mid-week, at the same time as polar air which causes temperatures to drop. Snowfall is expected in Pays de la Loire this Thursday and particularly in Sarthe, placed in vigilance orangewith “a few centimeters” possible, explains Daniel Vendramini, head of the Western region forecast service at Météo France, contacted by France Bleu Maine. Given the drop in temperatures, this snow could remain on the ground until Friday, particularly on the heights of the department. In a press release this Wednesday evening, the Sarthe prefecture calls for “the greatest caution”. According to our information, the school transport are maintained this Thursday.
Difficult to predict the exact thickness of the snow layer
“The different models are moving towards a forecast of a snowy area concentrated in a few departments where snow accumulations could be a little more significant than elsewhere.“, explains the forecaster. “In the Pays de la Loire, we could have a few centimeters for Thursday morning in particular, with a risk that these snowfalls could remain, with the cold, until the next day. It remains difficult to estimate the thickness of the snow layer, which plays a role within a few degrees. This is why there is vigilance to warn of the risk, particularly on the roads.“
Ces first snowfall of the season occur while the ground temperature is still positive. But depending on the abundance of precipitation, with temperatures that will be close to zero degrees, “there is a risk that the snow will hold“.
School transport maintained
In a press release this Wednesday evening, the Sarthe prefecture recalls that the passage of Caetano “could cause snowfall of around 1 to 5 centimeters, or even locally 10 centimeters, across the entire department“. The prefect of Sarthe calls for the greatest caution and limit travel. However, in the absence of a suspension order, school transport is maintained this Thursday according to information collected by France Bleu Maine from Transdev which operates the majority of connections in Sarthe.
Frosts on Friday before a very clear mild spell
Daniel Vendramini from Météo France recommends keep informed regularly because the forecasts become more refined over the hours, as the different weather models get closer. So, before being able to say if snow was going to fall in Sarthe, it was first necessary to define the storm path Caetano to confirm “the rolling northeast winds which bring fresh and humid air, particularly to Normandy, and the fairly strong gale to the south of Pays de la Loire, for the second part of the day this Thursday“.
It will be necessary stay safe Fridaywith frosts expected, so much so that the weekend will be marked by a powerful mild spell, with temperatures reaching up to 17 degrees Sunday.
