Winter has barely begun, but it seems determined to make its presence felt in Bordeaux. For several days now, the thermometer has been playing spoilsport, stubbornly staying below zero. The metropolis and a large part of Gironde have been plunged into intense cold… without the snow that goes with it. Patience or warning: a few flakes could well appear in the next few hours.
A cold spell in Aquitaine and throughout France
As of this Tuesday, the département will be placed under yellow vigilance for the risk of snow and freezing rain. This alert is part of a marked cold spell. In Bordeaux, the mercury fell well below seasonal normals, with temperatures approaching -7°C in the early hours of the morning. In some communes of the Gironde, minimum temperatures even flirted with -10°C. The rest of France was not spared, with 26 départements under orange alert.
Snowfall possible in Bordeaux
For the time being, the snow is making itself scarce. But a disturbance moving in from the north could bring a few snowfalls overnight until Wednesday. The areas most likely to see flakes remain the Médoc, Arcachon Basin, Blayais and Libournais. Bordeaux could also be affected if temperatures remain low enough.
Should we expect a long-lasting white coat? Nothing is certain yet. The quantities forecast remain modest, and how well it stays on the ground will depend largely on the intensity of the precipitation. On the other hand, the risk of icy conditions is very real, particularly on the roads in the early hours of the morning, due to persistent frost and freezing fog.
From extreme cold to rainy conditions
Faced with this intense cold, the authorities have activated the ” Plan Grand Froid” in Bordeaux, with reinforced measures to welcome the most vulnerable people. An essential measure as winter sets in for the long haul.
Good news, however, for the more cautious: from Thursday onwards, a gradual warming is expected. Temperatures are expected to rise, but with a marked return of rain. In the meantime, down jackets, gloves and caution are still the order of the day: winter clearly hasn’t said its last word in Bordeaux.