What is the plan grand froid that has been activated in much of France?

Regional authorities can activate a special plan grand froid to protect vulnerable people when freezing temperatures become dangerous. We look at how this works.

“Extreme cold, like heat waves, is a danger to everyone,” says Météo France.

“It leads to increased health risks for all frail people (the elderly, infants, convalescents) or those suffering from respiratory or cardiac diseases".

“The cold presents particular danger for precarious, homeless or isolated populations, and those vulnerable due to their living or working conditions.”

Read more: Learning French: why être habillé pour l'hiver is rarely about your clothes

What is the ‘plan grand froid’?

The plan grand froid is a four tier programme designed to help keep vulnerable people safe and give the authorities more power to inform the population. 

It is activated by regional prefects following a cold weather alert from Météo France.

These alerts, as with other weather alerts, follow green (no alert), yellow, orange, and red (highest) alert level, depending on the severity of the situation.

France's various regions faced very different challenges in the cold. 

Mountainous areas, where people and public authorities are familiar with ice and snow, are typically better equipped to manage cold weather than urban areas.

For this reason, the implementation of the plan grand froid varies from region to region.

The plan grand froid typically includes measures (determined by the regional authority) such as:

• Allowing local authorities to temporarily open additional accommodation places for homeless people, including non-residential sites such as gymnasiums, schools and community halls

• A local census of isolated people living on their own

• Adapted hospital wards and beds for vulnerable people

• More outreach work to vulnerable people

• Extra efforts to limit the development of epidemics of illnesses such as flu syndromes and bronchiolitis

• More awareness raising and work to prevent the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning

The plan also provides for more communication and regular updates on the help available and recommended precautionary measures, especially in case of a health alert (for example, on the Santé publique France website and via radio and TV advertisements).

The four levels of the plan grand froid

Level 1 (green alert) - Seasonal Watch: Activated for the winter season between November 1 and March 31.

Level 2 (yellow alert) - Cold snap: Short-lived cold spells (1 or 2 days), or persistent cold weather in the case of longer-lasting alerts. 

Level 3 (orange alert) - Extreme cold: A period of very intense cold, characterised by very low minimum temperatures (below -18C).

Level 4 (red alert) - Exceptional cold: Corresponding to dangerous, exceptional, widespread and long-lasting cold.