A snowy episode ” outstanding “ should take place in the Northern Alps at the end of the weekend, a few days before Christmas and in the middle of the school holidays. Météo-France has therefore decided to place the departments of Isère, Savoie and Haute-Savoie on orange snow-ice and avalanche alert for the day of Sunday, according to its latest bulletin published Saturday December 21 at 4 p.m. hours.
According to the meteorological organization, a disturbance crossing the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region will lead to accumulations of snow in the mountains of up to 40 cm around 1,000 meters above sea level, likely to disrupt access to high altitude resorts, while the winter vacation has just started. By Sunday evening, these snow accumulations could reach 60 cm around 2000 meters above sea level.
Motorists must demonstrate “great vigilance” on the roads, be equipped with winter tires and chains for access to certain mountain areas, while limiting the « maximum » travel, recalls the Haute-Savoie prefecture in a press release.
Those taking the A7 motorway from the south of France are called to “become well informed about the weather conditions before traveling to these regions”alerts Vinci Autoroutes.
A northwest wind will also blow in gusts ranging from 80 to 100 km/h in the mountains, which could cause accumulations of snow in places, specifies Météo France. The risk of avalanche will be high in the evening from 6 p.m. on the massifs of Haute-Savoie (Chablais, Aravis, Mont-Blanc), Savoie (Haute-Tarentaise, Beaufortain, Vanoise, Maurienne) and Isère (Belledonne). , Grandes Rousses and Oisans).
Of “great avalanches” will be triggered during the night and during the day on Monday. They “will be able to reach exposed mountain roads as well as high-altitude infrastructure”warns the organization. On Monday, the snowy episode will be accompanied by a “strong wind”he adds: “The fresh snow will also be deposited on a snowpack that has not yet stabilized following previous snowfalls which could encourage the start of large avalanches. »
No trains on certain lines in Normandy on Sunday
Météo-France has also placed Manche (Normandy), Ille-et-Vilaine and Côtes-d'Armor (Brittany) on wind orange alert for Sunday. Squalls “could reach 120 km/h or even 130 km/h locally on the coast, and around 100 km/h inland”specifies the organization.
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As a result, SNCF announced on Saturday that rail traffic will be suspended on Sunday and Monday. “on part of the Normandy railway network particularly affected by violent winds”. The railway axes affected by the traffic cut are Caen-Cherbourg, where there will be no “no traffic between 12 p.m. and until the end of service on Sunday” and Caen-Granville, where there will be no “no traffic all day from Sunday December 22 until 12 noon Monday December 23”details the SNCF.
“As soon as there is a lull, the SNCF teams plan for reconnaissance trains to pass, in order to ensure that there are no obstacles on the tracks”continues the company. The normal resumption of traffic is “planned for Monday December 23, 2024 morning on the Caen-Cherbourg axis and Monday December 23, 2024 12 p.m. on the Caen-Granville axis”depending on the impact of strong winds.
