Storm Enol will hit France on Sunday, what to expect?

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One storm can hide another. After Dionisio, who touched down in France this Friday, December 20, 2024, it's the turn of Enol (newly named) to come and blow over France this Sunday, December 22.

And the forecasts announce significant gusts, heavy snowfall in mid-mountains with risks associated with these two phenomena. The forecasts.

Departments on alert

A few days before Christmas, the vigilances and their colors, yellow and orange, are out. In total, 82 departments are placed on yellow alert, mainly for wind, but also snow, avalanches, and even storms.

Three departments are placed on orange alert, namely Côtes-d'Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine and Manche.

Strong gusts

Concretely, what to expect? Well it all depends on your location.

What you need to know first is that a “North-West flow sets up during the night from Saturday to Sunday”, explains Yann Amice, meteorologist at Weather N'Co, contacted by actu.fr.

On the Channel coasts (and in particular the three departments on orange alert), this results in gusts ranging from 100 to 120 km/h with, locally, peaks at 130.

“Stormy gusts,” notes Yann Amice.

But on the other hand, we must also monitor the wind “which is going to return to the Mediterranean”, points out the meteorologist.

It will be a strong episode of mistral with a little tramontane.

There, over the Mediterranean arc, gusts will reach a maximum of 120 km/h. But it's in Corsica that things will get worse with gusts of between 100 and 130 km/h, and peaks at 150. It will therefore blow hard.

Snowfall, drifts and avalanches

And the wind will be felt everywhere in the country. And will mix, in medium and high mountains, with the flakes.

Already, because the temperatures will drop drastically: and the iso zero (the place from which there will be negative temperatures) will also drop, therefore. Concretely, this weather point will be between 800 and 100 m altitude this Sunday?

Enough to cause significant snowfall in the Massif Central and the Northern Alps. Depending on the location, there could be more than a meter of snow, according to Météo France.

On the other hand, not too much snow on the plains, you will have to be on higher ground.

But these snowfalls in the mountains are accompanied by other risks: snowdrifts and the risk of avalanches are increasing sharply. Especially in the Alps. You will have to be vigilant.

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