“The night ahead is going to be difficult”: half of France under the snow after the Caetano storm

Winter storm Caetano, which caused transport chaos, is moving towards the east of the country. And for some, it's already panic. “I just got my license, so it’s a disaster. I’m a coward,” says a motorist in the video above. In Neuves-Maisons (Vosges), we prepared for the heavy snowfall to come. “I changed my tires yesterday, so there's no problem. I'm equipped, I'm ready”congratulates another.

Blocked truckers

A very good initiative, because this Thursday, it was in the west of the country that the weather and traffic conditions were the most difficult. Accidents have occurred in particular on the A13 motorway, such as head-on collisions or road exits. Near Fougères, in Ile-les-Vilaines, traffic has even been banned for all heavy goods vehicles on the A84. 200 truck drivers had to be patient.

Some were even willing to sleep in their truck. “I'm 90% sure, if the weather doesn't improve. I've been stuck since 9am this morning”laments a trucker. Another waits to see: “They're announcing icy weather, apparently, so we'll see what time they re-ban it. And otherwise, we'll wait to leave. It's part of the job”he said, philosophically. But at the end of the afternoon, traffic was able to resume in Brittany.

Meanwhile, in the Eure-et-Loire countryside, the snow has paralyzed an entire village, except Jean-Noël and Catherine. These two residents of La Ferté-Vidame wanted to keep the entrance to the only medical office in the village clear, so they grabbed brooms to clear the road, in case anyone needed them. “This is the fourth time I've come here this morning. It doesn't stop. And now, in my opinion, we'll be here for a little while.” admits Jean-Noël.

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Sticking together, showing solidarity, was also the mission of the small town of Saint-Georges-des-Groseillers, in Orne, where the 24 municipal agents mobilized. Due to a lack of teachers, the school was even transformed into a daycare center for the day. As a precaution, the mayor is calling on these 3,300 residents to stay safe at home this evening. “The night ahead is going to be difficult. They are forecasting frost, we have a prefectural alert. So, yes, it will get complicated”assure Stéphane Terrier.

In Dijon, where heavy snowfall is also expected tonight, salt spreaders roamed the city center all day. Icy could also form.