catastrophic forecasts and severe cold from this date?

For weather experts, winter is definitely here. Even if the calendar still indicates the fall season. What does this discrepancy correspond to?

The cold will further intensify in the days leading up to the end-of-year holidays. A drop in temperatures which marks the start of winter weather. But do you know that it has nothing to do with the official calendar dates?

An early December marked by freezing weather

We are entering the very last part of the year 2024. And this also marks the arrival of cold weather which should intensify in the coming days. Between Saturday and Sunday, polar air will plunge from Scandinavia towards the Mediterranean basin. This will lead to a marked general cooling.

Sunday, December 7, gusts of mistral and tramontane are expected to hit the Mediterranean regions. From Monday 8, the weather forecast predicts a return of bitter cold to 3/4 of the country with daytime temperatures not exceeding 7°C.

Who says return of the cold also says risk of frost over almost the entire country during this period. They could locally be severe. Gardening enthusiasts will therefore have to take measures to protect their plants.

With this deteriorating weather, the heating will have to be on full blast again. To avoid seeing your energy bills skyrocket, don't hesitate to slip under a blanket or thermal blanket. This will help you retain heat, without having to push the radiator.

No doubt then, this very beginning of December marks the arrival of meteorological winter. The latter, however, does not entirely correspond to calendar winter, the dates of which differ slightly.

As indicated by La Chaîne Météo, their difference “mainly lies in the way we define these seasons and their use for practical purposes”.

What is meteorological winter?

As you all know, there are four seasons in the year. And as far as winter is concerned, it generally starts around the December 20 to finish around March 20.

But for meteorological winter things are a little different. This one begins on December 1 and ends around February 28 and 29. During this period, the average temperature in France is 5.9°C. A data which can vary depending on the years. But the arrival of cold weather is not immediate. It actually begins a little later, usually after the winter solstice, around December 21.

“This definition is used by climatologists and meteorologists for practical reasons. Because she simplifies the analysis of climate trends by grouping the months of the same season into fixed periods. Indeed, fixed periods of three months correspond better to the collection of climatic data. As well as the analysis of long-term trends, explains the Weather Channel.

“Astronomical seasons are based on the Earth's position relative to the Sun. While weather seasons are based on the annual cycle of temperatures”complète la National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The astronomical or calendar seasons begin with the equinoxes (spring and autumn, the length of the day is then equal to that of the night) and the solstices (summer and winter, longest day and shortest day of the year),

Currently, we have entered the 1st month of meteorological winter. We will emerge from it towards the end of February, although the calendar will indicate that we will still be in winter until March.