Orange vigilance for snow and ice remains activated this Sunday due to heavy snowfall in France. What should we expect? How long will this bad weather continue? Find our latest forecasts in this article.
Météo-France maintains its orange vigilance for snow and ice in the four Pyrenean departments until tomorrow afternoon, 4 p.m. Heavy snowfall continues on the Pyrenees where locally, up to 1.5 meters of powder snow is expected above 1500 meters. With the effect of the wind, snowdrifts are feared and the risk of avalanches becomes more and more significant.
These heavy snowfalls are expected to continue for a few more hours due to the very unstable weather which persists in France, on the fringes of the Darragh depression. These snowfalls in the Pyrenees can be explained by an orographic blockage: in the northern flow, precipitation finds itself blocked against the relief.
What should we expect over the next few hours? When can we expect improvement? Find our latest information in this article.
Very heavy snowfall!
The Darragh depression, which is circulating over the north of France and which will slide towards the Massif Central during the day, continues to bring extremely turbulent weather to the country. Snowfall is also abundant in the Pyrenees from the mid-mountains.
Météo-France has already noted significant quantities of snow in the Pyrenees since the start of the snow episode. However, it should be remembered that these snowfalls are a godsend for the Pyrenees, less than two weeks before the start of the Christmas holidays, which will begin on Friday, December 20 after school.
In its vigilance bulletin, Météo-France specifies that 30 to 50 centimeters of snow were recorded between 1500 and 2000 meters above sea level in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and the Hautes-Pyrénées, and from 20 to 40 centimeters in Haute-Garonne and Ariège.
What developments for the next few hours?
Snowfall will continue over the next few hours, with a rain-snow limit which will fluctuate between 600 and 900 meters.
Due to the continuation of this extremely turbulent weather and the continuation of this heavy snowfall in the Pyrenees, orange vigilance is not expected to be lifted until tomorrow afternoon, at 4 p.m.
Up to 1.50 meters of snow!
Throughout the episode, the snowfall promises to be particularly remarkable. Remember that just a few hours ago, the Pyrenean summits were still snow-free.
Over the entire episode, 15 to 30 centimeters of snow are expected in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and the Hautes-Pyrénées around 800 meters above sea level, 70 centimeters to 1 meter between 1200 and 1400 meters, and the layer of snow could reach from 1 meter to 1 meter 20, or even 1 meter 50 above 1500 meters.
In Haute-Garonne and Ariège, 10 to 20 cm are expected around 800 meters, 50 to 70 centimeters between 1200 and 1400 meters, and from 80 cm to 1 meter, or even 1 meter 20 above 1500 meters.
