Winter hits all the harder this week with the return of snow to a large part of the territory while the bitter cold is also back. Météo-France has placed 16 departments on yellow alert for snow, ice and extreme cold this Wednesday, January 15, 2025, what are they? We tell you everything!
Since the start of the week, France has had to face a particularly intense episode of severe cold due to an anticyclone located in the north of Europe, but also cold and particularly dry air located in low layers. This Tuesday, January 14, 2025 also experienced a peak of cold with temperatures between 0 and -4° degrees around the Channel, but also on the Atlantic coasts and even more freezing temperatures inland, between – 3 and -7°C, reaching -11°C in the north-eastern quarter of the country.
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Unfortunately, the day of Wednesday January 15, 2025 does not seem to hold better conditions. This cold snap episode continues, but this time with additional snowfall. Difficult weather conditions as Météo France announced in its latest weather bulletin published at 4 p.m. that 25 departments have been placed on extreme cold yellow alert, 16 of which will be accompanied by snow and ice. What are they and what does this day of January 15, 2025 have in store for us? We tell you everything!
France hit by a cold wave
This week marked by extreme weather conditions still has some particularly intense moments in store. Météo France issued a yellow alert for severe cold in 25 departments this Wednesday, January 15, 2025. The areas concerned are mainly located in the northeast and center of the country and include Loire-Atlantique, Vendée, Deux-Sèvres, Vienne, Indre, Loir-et-Cher, Cher, Loiret, Nièvre, Yonne, Aube, Côte-d’Or, Saône-et-Loire, Loire, Jura, Doubs, Haute-Marne, Haute-Saône, Meuse, Moselle, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Haut-Rhin, Bas-Rhin, Vosges and the Lands of Belfort.
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-Among these 25 departments placed on yellow alert for extreme cold, 16 were placed on yellow alert for snow and ice this Wednesday, January 15, 2025. Here is the list of departments placed on alert: Aube, Côte-d'Or, Loiret, Marne, Haute-Marne, Meurthe-et-Moselle, Meuse, Moselle, Bas-Rhin, Haut-Rhin, Haute-Saône, Seine-et-Marne, Yvelines, Vosges, Yonne and Essonne. These regions must prepare for difficult traffic conditions. Snow precipitation, combined with negative temperatures, increases the risk of icy conditions on the roads.
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What does a yellow alert for snow and ice mean?
While this winter episode could continue, Météo-France calls for constant vigilance. A yellow warning for snow and ice, issued by Météo-France, signals a meteorological risk requiring particular attention, although the conditions are generally not extreme. Clearly, snowfall can be expected, but in moderate quantities which could still cause disruptions on the roads and affect transport, particularly on secondary roads. On the icy side, the risk is due to the formation of slippery patches, often caused by light rain or humidity which freezes on contact with cold surfaces.
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Although the yellow alert is often an intermediate step, it signals that weather conditions could deteriorate further, justifying increased monitoring.
