Overview
- The cold spell, which deepened Friday during the Ascension weekend, left many areas 5–8°C below normal and dropped snow to roughly 1,000–1,400 meters with local totals near 30 cm.
- Fresh snow and chill reshaped holiday plans, as Pyrenean attractions closed for the day and restaurants and seaside vendors reported sharp drops in customers compared with a typical mid‑May.
- Météo‑France raised avalanche danger to level 3 in several Alpine sectors and mountain police urged visitors to carry winter gear like crampons and an ice axe and to plan routes with current weather in mind.
- Forecasters trace the pattern to an Atlantic high paired with a Norwegian Sea low that funneled cold, moist polar air over France, a setup that favors showers and late spring mountain snow.
- A quick reversal is expected next week, with sun and 25–30°C returning by Wednesday or Thursday and some regions gaining 10–15°C in a few days under strengthening high pressure.