Weather report. Haute-Savoie, Savoie and Isère on orange alert for snow, ice and avalanches

Six departments have been placed on orange vigilance for Sunday, Météo France announced in its latest bulletin.

Haute-Savoie, Savoie and Isère will be on snow-ice alert from 9 a.m. before switching to alert for the risk of avalanches from 6 p.m.

Gusts of 80 to 100 km/h in the mountains

« A disturbance crosses the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region […]. . This active disturbance gives rise to snow accumulations in the mountains which can reach 20 to 40 cm around 1000 m altitude over the day on Sunday and disrupt access to high altitude stations,” the meteorological institute reports.

« The northwest wind blows in gusts of up to 80 to 100 km/h in the mountains and causes accumulations of snow in places,” warns Météo France.

Abundant amounts of snow in 48 hours in Haute-Savoie

In a press release, the Haute-Savoie prefecture indicates that “snow disturbances will affect, in varying proportions, the entire territory”, where “abundant quantities of snow are expected, particularly in the mountains, but also in the plains, with a rain/snow limit from 400 m at the end of the day.”

According to the Meteo France weather report, 40 to 60 cm of snow in 48 hours around 1000 m altitude and around 1 m of snow above 1500 m.

Traffic conditions are likely to be difficult everywhere, so great vigilance is required from motorists when traveling.

“Violent winds” also expected in Isère

In the Isère department, Vinci Autouroutes is also warning drivers following an orange “High winds” vigilance alert launched by Météo France. The A48 motorway network in its Isère part could be affected this Sunday, December 22 from 9 a.m. in the morning. Vinci Autoroutes recommends that drivers find out about the weather conditions before traveling in the region.

Strong winds and snow disturbances in Savoie

In Savoie, snow disturbances and strong winds will affect the entire territory of Savoie: the rain-snow limit will drop to an altitude of 400 meters at the end of the day. Météo France forecasts a cumulative snowfall of 20 to 40 cm at 1,000 meters altitude on Sunday alone. Over 48 hours, the expected accumulation will reach one meter at 1,500 meters altitude.

On the other side of the country, Manche, Ille-et-Vilaine and the Côtes-d'Armor department will be placed on orange alert from 10 a.m. for the risk of violent winds.

“In a rapid northwesterly flow between a depression named 'Enol' located to the west of Norway and a powerful anticyclone located in the North Atlantic, strong gusts will affect the coastal departments of the Channel on Sunday and strong falls of snow will fall on the north of the Alps from the middle mountains », said Météo-France.