1. France Snow Overview

France

Updated 24/03

What must be the first Nordstau event of the year hits the Alps over the course of this week, bringing a return to winter conditions across much of the Northern French Alps. The freezing line will decline through the middle of this week, dropping close to sea level overnight Thursday into Friday.

At the same time, northerly unsettled conditions working their way in across Central and Eastern Europe brings snowfall to many areas north of the Briancon-Gap line. Over higher ground this could see as much as a foot-and-a-half through Wednesday evening and into Thursday; as the freezing line declines over this period, snow will work its way down to lower elevations, but the best conditions will remain above 2,000m.

A brief pause in the snowfall over Saturday still sees cloudy conditions dominating; a few more flurries move in over higher ground on Sunday, as the freezing line recovers to around 2,000m. The long term forecast then calls for sun and fine, dry and bright conditions to dominate as high pressure returns to the area.