What is a cold drop, this weather phenomenon which will cross (and cool) France?

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Coat, scarf, hat, the winter outfit is out this Monday, November 11, 2024. In fact, temperatures will start to drop all week long. On Thursday, maximum temperatures should not exceed 10 degrees.

This first cold snap of the season is due to a phenomenon: the cold drop. Every year we hear about it, but you don't really see what it is? We'll explain it to you.

A pocket of very cold air

Météo France defines the cold drop as “a pocket of very cold air located at an altitude of more than 5,000 m”.

In fact, it is a pocket that “stands out from the circulation associated with polar jet current to descend to our latitudes.

The jet stream is “a very powerful axis of high-altitude wind circulating around the Earth”. A “wind tube” which brings perturbationsalways specifies the weather organization.

When the cold drop passes, beware of unstable weather

The cold drop therefore lowers temperatures. But not only that.

It often causes unsettled weather, with showers, sometimes consisting of sleet down to the ground, associated with strong gusts of wind.

Indeed, as meteorologist Guillaume Séchet reminds us actu.frthe cold drop that will cross France will certainly make the gray go away. But we will also have to expect “clouds and a few showers“. And even snow at altitude, from 1000 meters.

More some regions will still escape precipitation and will be entitled to some clearings, after two weeks of fog. Afterwards, it's always a dilemma: Is it better to be hot, but no sun or cold with some sunny spells? You have a few hours left to answer this question.

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