After months of record warm temperatures, France is cold, and will get colder in the coming days as frozen air masses that brought record low temperatures to Scandinavia last week head south. Several French prefectures have initiated measures to protect vulnerable people exposed to the cold.
While climate change has brought some of the warmest months on record to France, it does not mean winter has disappeared altogether.
From Sunday, temperatures were expected to drop more than 10 degrees Celsius across the country in a few days, according to the Meteo France meteorological service.
More than half of departments are under snow and ice alerts, bought by cold air masses from Scandinavia, where record temperatures of up to -43 degrees Celsius were recorded in northern Sweden on Thursday.
Lowest temperatures Tuesday
Tuesday will be the coldest day with sub-zero temperatures in the morning across most of the country, except for the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts.
The national thermal indicator, which averages temperatures recorded from all meteorological stations, could drop below zero for the first time since February 2018.
Several departments have put in place their ‘plan grand froid’, or extreme cold plans – official protocols to protect homeless and other precarious people, providing emergency accommodation and heated spaces, like gymnasiums, where people can take shelter.
The Ile-de-France prefecture, which includes Paris and its surrounding suburbs, opened 100 shelter spots and is expected to open 274 more during the week.
Northern France still flooded
The Nord and Pas-de-Calais departments are also still under flood alerts, after heavy rains last week caused massive flooding for the second time in three months.
There are concerns about freezing temperatures affecting waterlogged homes, cracking walls and impacting pipes.
French President Emmanuel Macron asked the government to “accelerate the responses” to the flooding to help those affected, as well as the most vulnerable and homeless.
Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne is expected to tour the region on Tuesday.
(with AFP)
