what should you expect in Hauts-de-?

what should you expect in Hauts-de-?
what should you expect in Hauts-de-France?

The , Pas-de-, and Oise are classified as orange snow-ice alert this Wednesday, January 8, 2025. Snow accumulations of up to 20 centimeters locally are announced in Pas-de-Calais by Météo . What should you expect? Elements of response with a forecaster.

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An unexceptional winter episode but notable enough to seriously disrupt traffic in Hauts-de-France. This Wednesday, January 8, 2025, precipitation gradually rises towards the north of the country and Hauts-de-France is preparing to experience a significant episode of snow.

Over the next 24 hours, more or less significant accumulations are expected across the four corners of the region. The Nord, Pas-de-Calais, Somme and Oise are classified as orange vigilant until Thursday January 9, 2025, noon. Only the Aisne department remains on yellow alert for the moment.

The region has announced that no school transport will run this Wednesday, January 8, 2025, while the snowy episode is expected to begin around 3 p.m. How many centimeters? In which sectors? When will we return to normal? Here are 3 things to know.

How much snow? In which sectors? What times?

The first snowflakes are expected in Hauts-de-France between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., this Wednesday, January 8, 2025, and it is expected to snow until noon the next day. “The disturbance will arrive from the southwest”indicates Oswald Hovaere, forecaster at Météo France.

The south of the Pas-de-Calais department and the Avesnois-Thiérache region will be the first affected. According to Météo France, the expected snowfall accumulations are as follows:

  • 5 to 10 cm over almost the entire Nord and Pas-de-Calais, except the coast
  • 10 to 15 cm on the coasts of Artois, between Boulogne-sur-Mer, Saint-Omer, and
  • Up to 20cm on the hills of Artois

The forecaster warns that these are snow accumulations. On the ground, there may be less but we will still have fairly substantial values”specifies Oswald Hovaere.

How long will it last? When will we return to normal?

It is expected to snow continuously until midday, Thursday January 9, 2025. “It will snow most of the night, with a little less snow between midnight and 7 a.m.”explains the forecaster.

The snow episode will gradually evacuate late Thursday morning through the western part of Nord Pas-de-Calais, before a complete evacuation in the afternoon. “However, we will have to monitor the risk of refreezing for the night from Thursday to Friday, or even from Friday to Saturday”recalls Oswald Hovaere.

The snow could remain on the ground in the Artois hills sector. The mercury is expected to rise from the start of next week.

Is this an exceptional episode?

Snow in winter? Nothing could be more normal, recalls Météo France. “It is a snow disturbance which is circulating in the region and which is not of any exceptional nature”analyzes the forecaster.

Read also ► WEATHER. Maximum caution due to a snow and ice alert in the Somme, Pas-de-Calais and the Nord

However, if the predicted accumulations are true, this snowy episode would be out of all proportion to the few snowfalls recorded in recent weeks.

Hence the placement on orange snow-ice alert by Météo France. Significant amounts of snow or ice are expected, recalls the meteorological service. Traffic conditions can quickly become very difficult across the entire network. Some damage may affect electricity distribution and telephone networks. The risks of accidents are increased”.

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