The second half of January is statistically the coldest period of the year.
This weekend and the days to come are part of this trend.
Météo France thus speaks of a "winter atmosphere" for this weekend.
At least until the middle of next week, the meteorological organization explains that “temperatures will generally be 3°C to 5°C below seasonal norms at the end of January”.
Several departments in the center, south and east of the Alps are also on yellow alert (level 2 out of 4), due to the extreme cold.
/Meteo France
This Saturday morning, a very large part of the country also remains on yellow alert due to snow, but also ice.
Caution is therefore required on the roads.
/Meteo France
This animation provided by The Weather Channel shows the progression of snow showers at the end of the night.
⚠️ Caution #Neige❄️: a disturbance causes small snowfalls from #Lorraine to the Massif Central via #Bourgogne.
This snow stays on the ground all the way to the plain.
In the north of the #Moselle, the layer reaches 10 cm.
This snow reaches the east of the Pyrenees.
pic.twitter.com/sbgp6XD1yG
— The Weather Channel (@lachainemeteo) January 21, 2023
According to Météo France, “the accumulations of snow on the ground are generally low, but locally exceed 20 cm between the country of Bitche and Alsace Bossue.
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Then “the conditions become more and more anticyclonic (…) A flow from north to northeast continues to supply us with cold air.
The nights from Saturday to Sunday, and from Sunday to Monday, are likely to be the coldest nights, with almost generalized frosts.
A few small frosts will even be possible on the Côte d'Azur and Corsica”.
This Saturday afternoon at the hottest moment, the temperatures will be, on average, in the range of 3°C to 5°C below normal for the season.
/Meteo France
Sunday, the situation will be similar in the afternoon.
/Meteo France
“The feeling of cold will also be regularly accentuated by the wind, in particular in the south-eastern quarter where the mistral and the tramontane will blow hard”, warns Météo France.
In addition, the Landes remain in orange vigilance (level 3 out of 4) due to a flood of the Adour.
Vigicrues, in charge of monitoring the level of rivers, believes that “the spread of floods is slow and will continue this weekend.
The peak is spreading towards the Dax sector this Saturday, generating significant overflows”.
The peak "between 4.60m and 4.80m" is expected in the middle of the day.
This is a “usual overflowing flood for the season”.