A large part of northern France has been placed on yellow alert by Météo-France for the day of Friday January 3, 2025. Avalanches, snowfall and floods are expected in 51 departments. The Alps and Alpes-Maritimes are particularly affected by a yellow avalanche warning. Depending on how the weather develops, floods could also affect them, noted the Franceinfo site. Another yellow alert, this time for floods possible, was issued in the following departments: Normandy, Aisne, Ardennes, Deux-Sèvres, Marne, Oise, Seine-et-Marne, Val-d'Oise, Yvelines, 'Ille-et-Vilaine and Vendée. Those who live in flood-prone areas such as the banks of the Automne, the Meuse, the Sèvre Niortaise, the Touques, the Seine, the Rance and the Lay are also called to exercise caution. Cumulative rainfall could reach 2.2 mm. These yellow alerts should end during the evening. Another yellow alert was announced in several departments by Météo-France for snowfall. Burgundy-Franche-Comté, the inner suburbs of Île-de-France, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Essonne, Lozère, Eure-et-Loir, Mayenne, Sarthe, Côtes-d’Armor, Manche and Somme are affected. A priori, the alert could be lifted at the beginning of the afternoon on January 3.
Several ski resorts closed in the Vosges
On Thursday January 2, several ski resorts in the Vosges were closed due to snowstorms at altitude. These are the stations of Ballon d'Alsace, Markstein, Grand Ballon, Lac Blanc, Gaschney, Tanet and Thanner-Hubel. If they are expected to reopen this January 3, caution remains in order. “The cold front will move towards Switzerland this evening. But there is a strong risk of icy conditions overnight and tomorrow morning”explained Christophe Mertz, meteorologist and creator of the Atmo-Risk site, to France 3.
What to do in the event of an alert?
If you live in or go to one of the departments affected by these yellow alerts, there are some precautions to take. Clear the snow and salt the sidewalks in front of your home, stay informed about the situation, do not use continuous combustion heating, protect your water pipes, install generators outside your home and if you found immobilized on the road, leave your vehicle only on orders from the authorities.
