Cold Wave in France: Freezing Temperatures Expected on Tuesday, January 14th

The cold is settling over France this Tuesday, January 14th, with particularly low temperatures in the morning. A large part of the country, about 95% of mainland France, is affected by strong and widespread frosts. Météo-France has announced that this day will be one of the coldest of the week, with temperatures well below seasonal averages.

Freezing Temperatures from the Morning

In the early morning, temperatures dropped to impressive levels. At 8:00 AM, -10.2°C was recorded in Rodez, -9.2°C in Saint-Étienne, and -6.1°C in Le Mans. The morning low was reached in Mourmelon-le-Grand, in the Marne, with -11°C. Across France, minimum temperatures range between -3 and -7°C inland, and between 0 and -4°C on the coasts of the English Channel and the Atlantic. Some regions in the Massif Central and the northeastern quarter recorded temperatures as low as -8 to -11°C.

Exceptions: Positive Temperatures in a Few Southern Cities

In contrast, only a few southern cities, such as Nice, Bastia, and Ajaccio, are spared from this cold wave, with positive temperatures at dawn.

Afternoon Forecast

In the afternoon, maximum temperatures are expected to struggle to exceed 5°C in most regions. A slight warming is expected on the coasts of the English Channel and the foot of the Pyrenees, where temperatures should reach between 5 and 8°C. Inland, temperatures will remain chilly, averaging between 0 and 5°C.

Yellow “Cold Wave” Warning and Orange “Flood” Alert

Météo-France maintains a yellow “cold wave” alert for about thirty departments. This alert remains in effect throughout the day due to extreme temperatures and health risks related to the cold. Additionally, the Oise department is under an orange alert for flooding due to overflow in several sections of the middle Oise River.

Why These Temperatures?

This cold snap is caused by an anticyclone positioned over Northern Europe, generating cold, dry air at low levels. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly during the night, with the arrival of a milder air mass, but the frosts should return later in the week.