what awaits you with the arrival of depression Irene

Freezing rain and snow are expected from Tuesday evening and until Thursday in the northern half of France, where 36 departments in total will be on orange “snow-ice” or “rain-flood” alert.

Be careful in the northern half of France. An episode of snow, accompanied by freezing rain, is expected over a large part of the territory from Tuesday, January 16 in the evening and will last until Thursday, according to Météo-France forecasts. Thirty-six departments in the northern third are on orange “rain-flood” or “ice” alert on Wednesday January 17. In detail: Finistère, Morbihan, Ille-et-Vilaine, Côtes d’Armor, Orne and Manche are on “rain-flood” vigilance.

In question, the arrival of the Irene depression, which will bring “a mass of soft and humid air across the Atlantic coast” and encounter the cold air that persists in the north of the country. Up to 20 centimeters of snow are expected locally in Hauts-de-France on Wednesday. Here’s what awaits you in the days to come.

Tuesday evening: a little snow before freezing rain overnight

Weather conditions will deteriorate from Tuesday evening in the northern half of France, in an area stretching from Normandy to Burgundy-Franche-Comté. A few flakes are expected in the evening, “a dusting of snow” according to Météo-France. The precipitation will turn into freezing rain – rain that remains liquid despite subzero temperatures and instantly freezes on the ground to form sleet – as the night progresses. In Alsace and Lorraine, they will persist at dawn.

“Travel will be difficult, even dangerous”warns Loïs Pourchet, forecaster at Météo-France. In Ile-de-France, where it should snow a little in the early evening, “Freezing rain is expected from 10 p.m.”anticipates the forecaster, who has placed all departments in the Paris region on orange “snow-ice” vigilance from 11 p.m. If black ice is expected over a large part of the northern third of France, snow should however hold in the North and Pas-de-Calais overnight.

Wednesday: a mild spell before further snowfall, particularly in the north of France

A mild spell is expected on Wednesday morning. In Brittany, where Finistère and Morbihan will be on orange “rain-flood” alert, heavy rain is expected on Wednesday. Up to 60 millimeters of precipitation is expected locally. Elsewhere, rain – classic, but also freezing – is forecast for Wednesday, before the arrival of further snowfall throughout the day.

“Sometimes heavy snowfall is expected”explains Météo-France, which predicts 7 to 15 centimeters over part of Hauts-de-France, and even 20 centimeters locally. “In the evening, snowfall will spread across the whole of Ile-de-France, from north to south, and will last until Thursday morning”, analyzes the forecaster. Between two and five centimeters of snow are expected in the Paris region during the night from Wednesday to Thursday.

Thursday: more snow in the East

“L’snowy episode ends for Normandy, Ile-de-France and Picardy, but the roads will still be covered in snow”, anticipates Météo-France. The forecaster expects further snowfall in the Grand Est region, Champagne and northern Burgundy on Thursday morning.

While temperatures “are a little below normal, particularly in the northern part” for more than a week, Matthieu Sorel, climatologist at Météo-France, explains that this episode does not constitute a cold snap. He also recalled that episodes of snow and cold are decreasing with global warming.