Frost wave alert for three days: three-quarters of the country concerned

According to Météo France, the beginning of April will see a drastic drop in temperatures, below normal for the season. While the southwest had recorded some flare-ups of up to 30 degrees last week (a record), this Wednesday April 5 the thermometer will drop locally to -6°C. This sudden drop in temperatures will cause a major episode of frost over almost the entire country.

The wave of frost will affect “almost the entire territory, from the north to the central massif with descents into the Mediterranean hinterland. Few regions will be spared”, warns Christelle Robert, forecaster for Météo-France, to AFP.

From this Tuesday, April 4, temperatures well below 0, down to -4°C, are expected from the central massif to the far east. This drop in mercury is due to the presence of a north-easterly flow which brings masses of cold and dry air to France. Added to this is an anticyclone positioned from the Azores towards the British Isles and Scandinavia. During the day, temperatures, again positive, between 9 and 11°C, will generally remain below seasonal averages. However, the weather will be sunny everywhere in France.

During the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, the absence of wind and a weak cloud cover will favor the permanent installation of the cold. In the plain, temperatures could drop to -6°C. This sudden onset of cold weather in early spring could have adverse consequences for plants and crops. “This late frost period is once again coming at a delicate time,” explains Guillaume Jaudeau, forecaster at Météo France, according to Ouest-France. Indeed, most fruit trees begin to bud and are therefore more exposed to frost.

The morning frosts will last until Thursday April 6 for a large part of France. Which regions are affected until Thursday by this wave of cold and frost?