Orange alert for snow and ice in the Alps

This Thursday, November 21, Météo France placed several departments of the Alps and the Massif Central on Orange alert due to particularly difficult weather conditions. Two types of alerts are in effect: “Snow-Ice” for certain areas and “Wind” for others.

Gusts of up to 150 km/h in relief

The storm Caetanowhich crosses the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, generates violent winds in several departments: Ain, Isère, the Loire, Puy-de-Dôme, Savoie and Haute-Savoie. These areas are all on orange alert for wind.

• At altitude, peaks up to 150 km/h are expected in the Alps, against 110 to 130 km/h on the reliefs of the Massif Central.
• In the plains, the gusts will oscillate between 90 and 120 km/hparticularly in the Limagne region.

This phenomenon will begin at the end of the morning, reach its peak in the afternoon, then gradually subside during the night from Thursday to Friday.

Snow and ice: difficult conditions in the mountains

At the same time, the departments of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Hautes-Alpes are placed on orange vigilance for snow and ice. The first snowfalls are expected from late morning, from 300 to 400 meters above sea level, and will become more intense during the day.

Snowfall forecasts by altitude:

• 400 meters : 5 to 10 cm
• 800 meters : 15 to 30 cm
• 1200 to 1500 meters : 20 to 40 cm
• 2000 meters : 40 to 60 cm

Areas particularly affected include motorways such asA51 north of Sisteronwhere disruptions are feared. The cities of Gap et Embrun could record up to 20 cm of snowwhile the western slopes of the massifs will be the most exposed.

This weather episode could cause major disruptions on the roads, especially in the mountains. Motorists are strongly encouraged to:

• Equip yourself with snow tires or chainsparticularly in areas affected by snow and ice.
• Exercise caution on plain roads, where strong winds could cause falling trees or power outages.

Orange vigilance is maintained until the end of the afternoon for the departments concerned. A gradual return to more stable conditions is expected in the evening. It is recommended to follow updates from Météo France to stay informed of developments in the situation.