Should we expect to see snow for the holidays?

In the collective imagination, Christmas is often accompanied by a beautiful white coat, big shoes leaving footprints in the immaculate garden, falling flakes and snowmen.

An image probably conveyed by the Christmas TV films which abound as the holidays approach because in France, unless you are in the mountains, snow is rather rare at this end of year period. “Snow episodes in the plains have been much less frequent since the 1980s, as has the duration of snow cover on the massifs,” Météo-France recalled last year.

Mild temperatures and dry weather

This year again, the forecasts are not really pointing towards a white Christmas. The forecasting organization announces snow in Aurillac for Tuesday, but only in the morning. The fairly mild temperatures (10°C in Paris, 13 in Brest or 15 in Nice) do not allow for snowfall, especially as the sun should shine on a south-north east diagonal in the afternoon.

As for Wednesday December 25, a similar scenario is expected with a maximum of 15°C in Marseille. Even in cities that are often snowy, mild and sunny weather is expected, like in Strasbourg where it will be between 5 and 6 degrees.

“The last white Christmas in Besançon dates from 2010,” recalled Météo-France. And with climate change, snow will be less and less frequent. “20 or 30 years ago, we found snow in mid-mountains” at this time, explained climatologist at Météo-France Christine Berne to 20 Minutes last year, but “the snow line is getting higher and higher.” This year again, you have to go to the heights of the Pyrenees or the Alps to hope to celebrate New Year's Eve in a setting worthy of the magic of Christmas.