Overview
- Snow and verglas spread across eastern regions on Friday, with light accumulations from around 300 meters in the Grand Est, Bourgogne and Jura, and slippery roads reported.
- Météo‑France placed 52 departments under yellow alerts for snow and ice on January 2, after 26 were flagged for cold on New Year’s Day.
- The national average hit −3.9°C at 06:00 on January 1, marking the coldest New Year night since 2002, according to Météo‑France.
- Local extremes included −15.1°C at Ristolas in the Hautes‑Alpes and widespread sub‑zero readings across inland areas, while Corsica and parts of the southern coast stayed much milder.
- Météo‑France and La Chaîne Météo project temperatures remaining below seasonal norms at least through January 11, with freezing fog, icy roads and additional light snow episodes likely, especially in the north and east.