Starting this Wednesday, November 20, the first snowflakes should form in France and affect three French departments that Météo-France has placed on yellow alert. This comes as a “cold snap” hits France at the start of the week.
That's it, winter is here. At a time when France has been hit by a cold snap since Tuesday, November 19, with a drastic drop in temperatures and torrential rain expected in the north of the country during the day, the first snowflakes are expected this Wednesday November 20 on the relief of the East of the country.
As a result, Météo-France has placed three departments expected to record the first snowfall during the day on Wednesday. These are Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Isère. As the National Institute of Meteorology indicates, this is explained by the “presence of very cold air at altitude”.
Indeed, although it will snow in the Pyrenees above 1,500 to 1,800 m, the eastern relief should record snowfall at low altitude, i.e. “between 300 m and 600 m from the Vosges to the Northern Alps, under showers,” specifies Météo-France. It is for this reason that Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Isère were placed on yellow alert for “snow-ice” this Wednesday.
A widespread snow episode on Thursday?
“A little sleet, or even melting snow, could be observed on the Normandy hills,” adds Météo-France, which specifies that the cold should increase during the day of Thursday, November 21 in the north of the country.
“We should observe frequent small frosts under cover. In this unseasonably cold context, a new disturbance will occur in the country. North of the depression, the cold air will resist and the precipitation will be in the form of snow up to the plain,” wrote Météo-France.
If for the moment the exact location of this cold episode remains to be refined, several regions should observe a small layer of snow on the ground Thursday. According to Météo-France estimates, this could go “from Poitou, even from Pays de la Loire to Franche-Comté and the north of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes”.
