The year 2024 definitely has many surprises in store for us in terms of weather. While the Caetano depression suddenly plunged certain regions of northern France into winter mode with a remarkable episode of snow under the effect of a polar shift (cold air mass descending from the Arctic regions), it is a feeling spring which awaits us on Sunday over a large part of the country with temperatures worthy of April.
Why such temperature variations in a short time?
These sudden temperature variations are due to the undulations of the Jet Current, this strong altitude current which carries disturbances and allows the exchange of air masses between polar, temperate and tropical regions. This weekend, the northwest-oriented Jet is bringing the polar air down to our temperate latitudes. As it undulates quickly, we will find ourselves this weekend on the other side of the undulation with a Jet oriented to the southwest, bringing tropical air masses up to us. This change in air mass in the space of 48 hours will take us from winter to spring with an increase in temperatures of 10 to 13°C in quite a few regions.
Spectacular rise in temperatures this weekend © The Weather Channel
This Saturday is a day of transition, the cold air is still resisting in the eastern part of the country with frequent morning frosts of 0 to -3°C and locally -5 to -8°C on the snow-covered ground in the sheltered valleys. In the afternoon, temperatures still remain a little below seasonal norms from the northeast to the center-east at 3 to 8°C.
To the west, the mild weather is more significant. Temperatures are 5 to 8°C near the Atlantic coast in the morning and up to 12°C on the Breton tip. In the afternoon, it will be mild with 12 to 15°C and up to 17°C on the Basque coast. Note that this oceanic mildness will be slightly attenuated by the wind which will strengthen significantly in Brittany. A gale will affect the far northwest of the country between Saturday evening and Sunday.
Sunday: 16°C in Paris and 20°C at the foot of the Pyrenees
For this last Sunday in November, if you stroll through the first Christmas markets in place in our towns and villages, it will float like an air of April over cities like Paris, Bourges, Bordeaux and Toulouse. With generous sunshine in a sky veiled by high-altitude clouds, helped by the southerly wind, temperatures will reach values of 5 to 8°C above seasonal norms.
Spectacular rise in temperatures © The Weather Channel
Some exceptions to this spring weather:
– Languedoc and the PACA region where the south wind will bring back numerous clouds from the Mediterranean which may cause rain or showers at times.
– the Channel coasts where the south wind will blow strongly under very cloudy skies.
In the mountains, it will be the great warm spell with significant melting of snow up to high altitudes.
Next week, temperatures will drop a little, but will remain above seasonal norms. The brief cold snap this weekend will therefore be nothing more than a distant memory…
