Météo-France issues a “snow-ice” warning for 31 departments, mainly in the northern part of the country and the Alps, and a “wind” warning for 25 departments

Winter strikes hard: snow, ice, and strong winds across much of the country

On Thursday, November 21, the arrival of storm Caetano marks a significant shift to winter conditions in France. Snow is falling even in the plains, accompanied by temperatures typical of January. Météo-France has placed 56 departments on orange alert for snow, ice, and strong winds, signaling high vigilance across the country.

Increased vigilance in several regions

By midday, 31 departments remained on “snow-ice” alert, mostly in the northern part of the country and the Alps, while 25 departments were facing “wind” warnings.

The 1:00 PM bulletin, however, reported a gradual lifting of the “snow-ice” alert for some Breton departments, such as Côtes-d’Armor and Ille-et-Vilaine, although caution remains advised in these areas.

Weather conditions are expected to remain difficult, urging residents to remain cautious of travel and potential impacts from this winter storm.

School closures, suspended transportation, and thousands without power

The storm sweeping across France is causing major disruptions, with increased safety measures and extreme weather conditions.

School closures and halted school transportation

In the Puy-de-Dôme, schools from kindergarten through high school were closed Thursday afternoon by prefectural decision. The goal is to limit travel during the peak of the event, expected around 5:00 PM, with gusts reaching up to 120 km/h.

In the Yvelines, students were allowed to leave school starting at 3:00 PM to facilitate their return home, according to the prefecture. School transport will also be suspended on Friday.

More than 50,000 homes without electricity

The extreme weather has left thousands without power. According to Enedis, the most affected regions include:

• Pays de la Loire: 11,500 homes without electricity
• Normandy: 10,000 homes
• Brittany: 9,000 homes
• Poitou-Charentes: 7,000 homes

Heavy snow in the north and the Alps

The storm is generating an exceptionally early winter event, making driving conditions particularly difficult. According to Météo-France, the forecasts are as follows:

• 5 to 10 cm of snow in the plains, locally up to 20 cm in areas like Normandy, Centre, Burgundy, and southern Alsace
• In Île-de-France, 1 to 5 cm of snow, possibly up to 10 cm in the southern region
• Snowfall at lower altitudes in the Southern Alps

Powerful gusts and extreme winds

Winds will blow strongly across much of the country:

• On the coasts of the departments on orange alert, gusts between 100 and 120 km/h, with peaks up to 140 km/h in southern Brittany
• Inland, gusts reaching 100 km/h, up to 130 km/h in the Massif Central, and more than 150 km/h on the highest peaks of the Alps

Traffic restrictions and halted trains

In several departments, the circulation of trucks weighing more than 7.5 tons is restricted, with a 20 km/h speed reduction and a ban on overtaking, notably in Brittany, Normandy, and Centre-Val de Loire. In Île-de-France, all vehicles are subject to a 20 km/h speed reduction.

Road conditions are particularly difficult in Brittany and Normandy, warns Bison Futé.

Train lines suspended

SNCF has chosen to suspend several train lines as a precaution, including:

• Bordeaux-La Rochelle
• Limoges-Poitiers
• Limoges-Périgueux

With France under the grip of severe weather, vigilance and caution are essential in the face of unprecedented and dangerous weather conditions.

Disruptions expected at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle airport due to snow
Flight delays and cancellations possible as weather conditions worsen in Île-de-France

The snowstorms affecting Île-de-France are having direct consequences on air traffic at Roissy-Charles-de-Gaulle Airport, with delays expected. According to the French Civil Aviation Authority (DGAC), the adverse weather conditions will cause disruptions, and airlines have been instructed to cancel about 10% of their flights.

While Aéroports de Paris (ADP) stated that no major disruptions have been observed yet, they anticipate delays of 10 to 15 minutes and possible cancellations by the end of the day. Maintenance teams are on site with 266 snow removal and de-icing vehicles deployed at Roissy and Orly to minimize the impact. However, as the snowstorm intensifies, Météo-France has updated its forecast, expecting between 4 and 8 cm of snow.