Snow in the Alps, sun in south: weather outlook December 23 to 27
The wind and cloud is set to give way to cool but settled skies as the week progresses, giving excellent conditions for many mountain resorts
The ski resorts will see excellent conditions in most areas by December 26
Tomas Marek / Shutterstock
The blustery wind of Sunday and Monday is to give way to cool but settled weather as the week progresses, with clear skies forecast for many areas and excellent conditions in the mountain resorts.
The low-pressure system called Storm Enol, which brought strong gales to the north of France on Sunday is to continue its path southwards on Monday, with many departments on alert for blustery weather.
Storm Enol also brought an average of one metre of snowfall in both the Pyrenees and the Alps, leading French state forecaster Météo France to issue avalanche warnings for many mountain areas.
These alerts will remain in place for most of the week, however the situation is expected to improve as the low pressure system gives way to an anticyclone from the Azores.
The anticyclone will bring sunny weather to much of the south of France and brightly veiled skies to northern areas.
Monday, December 23
The blustery weather of Storm Enol continues to bring blizzard conditions and snowfall to the mountains.
The risk of avalanches is high, in particular in Savoie, Haut-Savoie and Isère, which have all been placed on high (orange) alert by Météo France.
A north-westerly wind will accentuate the chill in many areas, as will the northerly Mistral down the Rhône valley.
Rain is forecast in Brittany and the north-west.
Highs of 15C are forecast in Nice (Alpes-Maritimes)
Tuesday, December 24
The weather will settle on Christmas Eve as an anticyclone arrives from the Azores.
The wind will subside in most areas outside of the Rhône valley where the Mistral wind is forecast to continue, reaching up to 70km/h in Montélimar (Drôme).
By evening, the weather will have improved in most areas, however there will be thick fog and scattered drizzle in the west and north.
Highs of 15C are forecast in Nice, and Perpignan (Pyrénées-Orientales).
Wednesday, December 25
The Mistral wind will begin to subside leaving fine and settled weather along the Mediterranean coast.
There will also be fine weather in the mountains, with bursts of snow in the Alps and the Jura.
Overcast skies are forecast in the lowlands from the south-west to the Channel coast, with light showers likely in the north-west.
Highs of 17C are forecast in Nice, and Perpignan.
Thursday, December 26
On Boxing Day, the high-pressure system will have covered all of France, bringing settled but cool weather to all areas and excellent conditions to the ski resorts.
Clear skies are forecast along the Mediterranean coast, and cloudy skies in the north..
Highs of 15C are forecast in Nice, Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône), Ajaccio (Corse-du-sud).
Friday, December 27
The high pressure system will remain in place over France, bringing sunshine to the mountains and Mediterranean coast.
Northern areas will see settled weather, albeit under a veil of cloud.
Highs of 17C are forecast in Nice
