[PHOTOS] “As if it were the end of the world”: the Caetano storm sweeps France under the snow

There is chaos in a large part of France which woke up to snow and ice on Thursday after the Caetano storm, even forcing the closure of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, while road conditions are still difficult in several regions of France.

Stéphan Bureau who was in Paris on Thursday evening testified to the TVA Nouvelles newscast on the state of mind of the French who were a little surprised by this early snow, particularly in Paris where the whims of Mother Nature coincided with a strike in public transport.

“In the eyes of Quebecers who are used to navigating in much more adverse weather conditions, it is a small thing, but here, given that it was combined in Paris with a strike in public transport, it was a disaster », related Mr. Bureau.

Due to bad weather conditions accompanied by peak gusts of 140 km/h which swept the Atlantic front, more than 50 departments were placed on extreme vigilance, while 10% of flights were canceled at Charles-Charles airport. de Gaulle.

“This evening in Paris, we had to count to leave the center and return home between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m., because it was slippery, because it was slow and because public transport was partially on strike,” said explained the TVA Nouvelles collaborator.

This first snowstorm highlights the state of infrastructure that is often less adapted in certain countries, such as in France where citizens' snow shoveling habits have nothing to do with what we usually see on this side of the country. 'Atlantic.

But climate change has happened, disrupting the weather around the world to the point that last winter we witnessed sunny weather in mild weather in Quebec and snow-covered dunes in the Algerian desert.

“I sincerely believe that we have forgotten that we are in a country which has already had white Christmases, where there are mountains, where we go skiing, where normally we should be able, not to skate, but to drive with your car,” Mr. Bureau also observed.