France experienced severe weather and a sudden snowstorm in the past few hours, leading to near-total paralysis of traffic in several regions and resulting in the deaths of at least five people in separate incidents related to vehicles skidding and icy roads. These harsh weather conditions caused widespread disruptions to rail networks and major airports, prompting urgent government intervention and a review of weather forecasting mechanisms.
Human losses and tragic accidents
In a series of tragic incidents, three people died on Tuesday in two separate accidents caused by vehicles skidding on ice in the southwest of the country. In another horrific incident, a driver died after his car plunged into the Marne River near Paris. These incidents came a day after a truck driver was killed when his vehicle skidded on thick ice in the same region, bringing the total number of victims to five in a short period.
Criticism of the weather forecast and government admission
In official responses, French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarro acknowledged shortcomings in the weather forecast, noting that the meteorological service had not anticipated such severe conditions. He called for a review of the mechanisms used to issue warnings to ensure better preparedness in the future. Nevertheless, he indicated that the proactive measures taken in the Paris region on Monday night had contributed somewhat to mitigating the crisis and preventing further vehicle skidding or uncontrolled gridlock.
Disruptions in infrastructure and air navigation
The damage wasn't limited to roads; the railway network also experienced significant disruptions, and school transport was halted in regions like Brittany and Vendée in western France—areas whose inhabitants are not usually accustomed to such heavy snowfall due to their typically mild, oceanic climate. Air traffic was also affected at the two major airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, where authorities placed 250 snowplows on high alert to manage the situation, reflecting the strategic importance of these airports as key gateways to Europe and the world.
Climate context and ongoing warnings
This cold snap comes as the meteorological service issued an orange alert, the second-highest level of severity, warning of extremely low temperatures ranging between -3 and -10 degrees Celsius. Climate experts point out that while such sudden cold waves are part of the European winter, their intensity and the rapid formation of ice have turned roads in the southwest of the country into something resembling "ice rinks," posing a significant challenge to infrastructure that may not be fully equipped in non-mountainous areas to handle this type of extreme weather.
The weather disturbances are expected to continue, with forecasts of more snow and hail in large areas of northern France, calling for extreme caution from citizens and travelers in the coming days.
