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The weather was surprising this week. Snowfall at low altitude in several departments and temperatures were impressive. This return of winter cold has revived the hope of a Christmas in the snowa dream which is nevertheless becoming more and more rare.
Global warming is transforming our winters and reducing the chances of seeing snow light up the holidays, especially in most of France. If some continue to cling to this winter magicthe current weather seems to remind us that the seasons of yesteryear are moving away. Could Christmas 2025 be an exception to this trend?
A winter weather that is desired
Snow has always been synonymous with magic for end of year celebrationstransforming our landscapes into enchanting paintings and our traditions into precious memories.
Between snowmen, fun battles and magical walks in the forest, it symbolizes a winter the way we like it. But this emblematic weather is gradually fading. According to Météo-Francebetween 1950 and 2022, snow at Christmas was common in the northeast and the Massif Centralrare in the west. It was even almost absent from the Mediterranean areas.
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Weather: alert, the 30 departments where it is expected to snow this Thursday
While winters are getting warmerthe French must rethink their traditions to keep the spirit of Christmas alive, even without snowflakes. And this year, many people still hope to experience the magic of Christmas, with Mother Nature draped under her white coat. Possibility or this time again, utopia? The latest cold snap has given some people hope…
A freezing week under the influence of Caetano
Thursday, November 21, the Caetano depression hit France, plunging the country into intense winter weather. The first to suffer this icy offensive, the Rhône region welcomed the first snowflakes. Projections from the European ECMWF model also suggest a lasting installation of snow between Normandy and Bas-Rhin.
Temperatures plunged to spectacular levels. Friday morning, powerful jellies were recorded: -11°C in Bourdons-sur-Rognon and -10°C in Neuilly-l'Évêque, in Haute-Marne. Elsewhere, the thermometers displayed equally striking values: -8.4°C in Wy-dit (Val-d'Oise), -8.3°C in Venisey (Haute-Saône) and -6.7°C in Jaméricourt (Oise).
Even Nancy and Sélestat did not escape it, with -5.7°C and -5.2°C respectively. Paris, for its part, experienced its first frost of the season with a modest reading of -0.7°C at Montsouris station.
Faced with this cold snap, Météo-France had placed 51 departments on yellow alerttestifying to the extent of the phenomenon. But will this icy break be enough to offer a weekend in the snow? Meteorologists remain cautious.
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Weather: snow this winter in France? Meteorologists reveal the predicted scenario
Snowy weather at Christmas?
If the icy weather of recent days has delighted cold lovers, they will have to take advantage of it quickly. Indeed, this weekend already marks a return to much milder temperatures.
From Sunday, a low pressure flow coming from the southwest will warm the atmosphere, bringing a mass of temperate air across the entire country. In the south, thermometers could show up to 20°C. The Nors will be satisfied with 14 to 15°C.
This sudden mild spell raises a legitimate question: will winter be marked by mildness? The experts of Météo-France remain cautious. They believe that it is still too early to draw conclusions on the end of year holiday weather. However, the trends observed in recent years leave little room for optimism.
