Storms batter France: motorway closed, trains disrupted, gale warnings
Some areas will see over 100 mm of rain and snow is forecast across the north
Dozens of departments – mostly in the north – were on a tier-three orange warning (the second highest possible) for strong winds on Monday morning
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The first full week of 2025 will see all areas of France face several rainstorms, with the north also affected by strong gales. Snow is expected in the north and east later in the week.
These conditions are caused – as they often are – by different air masses from the west, south, and polar winds from the Arctic north coming into contact with each other.
Monday January 6
Storm Floriane hit France on Monday, bringing poor weather to all regions.
Rain is forecast everywhere for at least one part of the day, with the north, western coast and centre seeing sustained rainfall.
Powerful gales are also forecast in the north – early on Monday morning, winds on the Normandy coastline reached 124 km/h, and gales of well over 100 km/h are expected more than 100 miles inland.
In the south, the A51 motorway in Isère has been temporarily closed in both directions near the Sinard tunnel after strong gales blew objects onto the road earlier this morning. The motorway should reopen later in the day, possibly around midday.
In the west of France, trains have been running slower than scheduled - or delayed altogether - due to strong winds and a signal failure caused by the weather.
Services in Brittany and Pays-de-la-Loire in particular are affected, including to Nantes and Rennes.
State forecaster Météo France has placed 14 departments – mostly in the north – on a tier-three orange warning (the second highest possible) for strong winds.
Read more: What to do - and not do - in a red or orange weather alert in France
Note these warnings are subject to change throughout the day (already changing at least once) and it is advised to keep up to date through the official Météo France website.
In terms of temperature, Monday will start off mild for most despite the rain but will get colder as the day progresses and France plunges into a mini-cold spell.
Tuesday January 7
Rain from Storm Floriane will continue early in the morning but will die out by midday at the latest in most areas.
Those on the western coast will feel little respite, however, as a new storm forms and brings further rainfall, particularly in Nantes and the Loire-Atlantique department.
Temperatures in the north will drop as a polar wind from the north sweeps across the country.
The thermometer will not reach double figures north of the Loire, and will only be at typical levels along the Mediterranean coast.
Wednesday January 8
A warm, dry wind from Spain will push into France through the Pyrénées, coming into contact with the already-established polar winds covering the north of the country.
This will lead to rain over most of the country, as well as a further bout of strong winds.
Once again only the Mediterranean coastline will be spared the conditions.
Temperatures however will increase slightly in the north and centre of France during daytime, returning to normal levels.
A new bout of snow is expected in the east and the far north late at night, as the polar winds continue to dominate in these areas.
Snow is expected to fall close to the Belgian border and the mountainous east, and may fall in Normandy and parts of the Massif Central.
Read more: 4 tips to stay safe and check icy roads in real-time in France
Thursday January 9
Similar conditions will continue on Thursday, however rainfall from the previous day will move eastwards, eventually crossing over the German/Swiss border, and leaving skies in the west and centre dry (but still cloudy).
Temperatures will drop slightly once more, closer to Tuesday’s levels.
In the south-east, a peak of warm weather could see temperatures in Nice reach 18C, where it will be sunny and dry.
Friday January 10
Polar winds will be victorious in the battle for the skies by Friday, pushing south and covering all of France.
They will be less potent than at the start of the week, meaning temperatures will only drop slightly, however they are likely to bring rain to the south, up to the Mediterranean coast.
Snow is still possible, but not certain, in parts of the north.
Most areas of France in the north and centre will have seen over 50 mm of rainfall by the end of the week, rising to 80 mm in Nantes, 90 mm in the east, and over 100 mm in the Alps (although much of this will turn to snow).
