Ice and snow set to hit France in the coming days

France is set for a bout of snowfall at the end of the week as polar winds sweep across the country. 

Freezing winds from the Arctic ridge will blow across much of Europe, impacting multiple areas of France.

Significant snowfall is forecast from Saturday (December 7), although some may fall on Friday (December 6) at higher altitudes.

There is almost a certainty of snow in the Alps, Massif Central, and Pyrénées mountain ranges, as well as the Vosges and Jura areas of eastern France. 

It may fall at lower altitudes across much of the centre and north of France, as well as a small part of the south.

Up to 20cm may fall in at lower altitudes in the Massif Central, and around 80cm in the Pyrénées. 

Temperatures will drop around 2C below national averages over the weekend – reaching up to 4C below normal at the start of next week – as the Arctic winds push away the milder anticyclone from the Atlantic. 

Between Friday and Sunday (December 8) a 10C drop in temperatures is forecast almost everywhere, with, and only in the far south-east and south-west will double digits be hit on the thermometer.

In some places, temperatures may be -10C in the early mornings.

Ice is also expected on the roads, particularly in the north and east during the mornings.

Read more: 4 tips to stay safe and check icy roads in real-time in France

Official weather warnings are only provided 48 hours in advance by state forecaster Météo France, however you can check its official website nearer the end of the week to see if warnings are being put in place.

It is unlikely the snow will cause as much chaos as Storm Caetano in November as it is expected to be mainly limited to areas which frequently experience this type of weather in the winter.

Read more: Motorway crash, drivers stranded, power cuts: Storm Caetano wreaks havoc across France