Temperatures Drop Ahead of Meteorological Winter

This Saturday, on the eve of the official start of meteorological winter, temperatures are falling below 0°C in several northeastern departments of France, according to Météo-France in its daily bulletin.

A Chilly Morning in the Northeast

This morning, frost is widespread, especially in the northeastern quarter of the country. Temperatures have reached:

• -1°C in Strasbourg and Annecy,
• -2°C in Auxerre and Saint-Étienne,
• -3°C in Nancy and Mulhouse,
• -5°C in Épinal.

In the Doubs department, the town of Les Fourgs recorded an icy low of -10.1°C, according to La Chaîne Météo.

Elsewhere, chilly conditions persist in Normandy, the Centre, and the Rhône-Alpes region, with temperatures hovering around 0°C. On the other hand, the Breton coast enjoys exceptionally mild weather, with 14°C reported in Brest.

Sharp Contrasts in the Afternoon

As the day progresses, temperatures vary significantly across regions. While the east remains cool (2 to 6°C from Strasbourg to Reims), the southwest enjoys remarkable mildness, with:

• 20°C in Biarritz,
• 19°C in Tarbes,
• 16°C in Toulouse.

The Mediterranean coast also benefits from pleasant highs, such as 16°C in Marseille and 14°C in Montpellier and Nice.

Fog, Clouds, and Sunny Breaks

The morning begins under widespread cloud cover. In the northeast, fog patches, sometimes freezing, are slow to clear, particularly in the Alsace plain, the Lorraine plateau, and the Saône Valley. In some areas, like the Saône Valley, low clouds linger throughout the day.

In other regions:

• Brittany and Hauts-de-France: overcast skies all day, with rain arriving in the evening on the Breton coast.
• Southeast (PACA and Languedoc-Roussillon): alternating clouds and sunny spells.
• Elsewhere: after the fog clears, the sun shines generously.

This Saturday, therefore, highlights a transition between a cold end to autumn in the north and a mild start to winter in the south.