Snow and Ice Grips Normandy and Western France, Causing Widespread Travel Disruptions and School Closures

Widespread Disruptions and Warnings Across Western France

A significant winter weather event, characterized by heavy snow and treacherous ice, has gripped Normandy and large swathes of western France, leading to widespread disruptions on Monday, January 5, 2026, and continuing into Tuesday, January 6, 2026. Météo-France, the national weather forecaster, has issued orange alerts for snow and ice across 23 to 26 departments, including those in Normandy, Brittany, and the Paris region, signaling a substantial risk to daily activities and travel.

The cold snap has brought temperatures down to levels not seen since 2018, with sub-zero conditions expected to persist overnight, increasing the risk of black ice formation.

Severe Travel Chaos on Roads, Rail, and Air

The adverse weather has severely impacted transportation networks. Road conditions are particularly challenging, with authorities urging extreme caution. In the Île-de-France region, which includes Paris, traffic jams exceeded 1,000 kilometers at their peak on Monday afternoon, setting a new record. Speed limits have been reduced to 80 km/h on major roads in Île-de-France, and restrictions have been placed on heavy goods vehicles on certain routes.

Public transport has also faced significant challenges:

• School transport services have been suspended across all departments in Normandy for both January 5th and 6th. Similar suspensions are in effect in several departments in Brittany and Île-de-France.
• Bus services in Paris were temporarily suspended, and regional train services experienced disruptions.
• At Paris Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports, approximately 15% of flights were canceled to allow for runway clearing and aircraft de-icing.

Snowfall Accumulations and Ongoing Cold

Snowfall amounts have varied across the affected regions. In Normandy, accumulations of 3 to 7 centimeters were generally expected, with some highland areas potentially receiving up to 10 centimeters. Further west, in departments like Vendée and Charente-Maritime, up to 15 centimeters of snow was anticipated in the most exposed locations. The Paris region saw lighter snowfall, typically between 1 and 3 centimeters, though some areas like Seine-et-Marne and Yvelines reported up to 7 centimeters.

The cold weather is forecast to persist, with Météo-France indicating that road conditions will remain 'extremely difficult' due to severe frosts and the formation of black ice. Authorities, including Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot, have advised citizens to exercise extreme caution and, where possible, to work remotely on Tuesday, January 6.