Over the past few hours, France has experienced a wave of severe weather and sudden snowstorms, resulting in the death of at least five people and causing near-total paralysis of traffic and public transport, which has sparked a wave of government criticism of the performance of the meteorological service.
The toll of victims and tragic accidents
Ice formation and heavy snowfall have caused a series of fatal accidents on French roads. On Tuesday alone, three people died in two separate incidents caused by vehicles skidding on ice in the southwest region. In another tragic incident in the Paris region, a driver died after his car veered off the road and plunged into the frozen Marne River. These incidents come a day after a truck driver was killed when his vehicle skidded due to the severe weather conditions, also in the Paris region, bringing the total death toll to five.
A crisis in the transport sector and official criticism
Heavy snowfall, exceeding the usual levels for this time of year, caused widespread disruption to the transportation network. French Transport Minister Philippe Tabarrou stated that the meteorological service had failed to accurately predict the storm's severity and the extent of the weather conditions, calling for a review of forecasting and early warning systems to prevent such crises in the future.
Despite the criticism, the minister pointed out that the proactive measures taken on Monday night contributed to a relative improvement in the situation in the Paris region, where efforts were made to prevent vehicles from skidding and to avoid severe traffic congestion as residents returned home. Meanwhile, 250 snowplows were placed on high alert at Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, which, like many other European airports affected by the cold snap, experienced disruptions to flight schedules.
Infrastructure impacts and orange alert
The rail network was severely affected, with the national railway company announcing the suspension of several lines in western France and the slowing of train services to ensure safety. The severe weather also led to the suspension of school transport services in regions such as Brittany and the Vendée in the west of the country, areas where residents are unaccustomed to such heavy snowfall, further complicating daily life for citizens.
The meteorological service had issued an orange alert (level two) warning of snow and ice before later lifting it. Temperatures plummeted to between -3 and -10 degrees Celsius, turning roads in the southwest of the country into what stranded motorists described as "ice rinks." The unsettled weather is expected to continue, with more snow and hail forecast for large parts of northern France, urging continued caution and vigilance.
