First Winter Snowfall in Île-de-France Sees Orange Vigilance Lifted, Transport Disruptions Warned

The Île-de-France region experienced its first significant winter weather episode of the 2025 season on the night of November 22-23, with snowfall accumulations ranging between 1 and 4 centimeters. As of early Sunday morning, orange vigilance warnings for snow and ice were lifted for several departments including Yvelines, Val-d’Oise, Essonne, Paris, and surrounding areas, but remained active in Seine-et-Marne until 8 a.m., as well as for parts of the Massif Central, where light snow and freezing rain continue to pose risks.

Météo France reported that a weak disturbance causing snowfall and freezing rain moved from west to east across the country, affecting not only Île-de-France but also northeastern France and parts of the Massif Central. Notably, departments such as Aveyron, Cantal, Corrèze, Creuse, Haute-Vienne, and Puy-de-Dôme have remained under orange alert, with local snow accumulation ranging from 1 cm in Limoges to 3 cm in Égletons.

In response to the winter conditions, the police prefecture in Île-de-France enforced a 20 km/h reduction in speed limits on roads and banned overtaking for trucks over 3.5 tons on major routes to enhance safety. Despite these precautions, train and urban transport networks have remained largely operational, though delays of up to one hour have been reported, specifically at Roissy airport, with potential continuation into Sunday.

Transport Minister Philippe Tabarot emphasized the importance of not underestimating early season winter episodes, highlighting the coordination between governmental agencies including Météo-France, road services, civil aviation, and transport operators during the event. He also advised the public to limit travel unless necessary and to check road conditions closely, urging drivers to equip their vehicles appropriately. Approximately 7,500 road agents were mobilized throughout the weekend to address the impacts of the snowfall and ice on transportation infrastructure.

The snowfall, while relatively light and unlikely to persist due to rising temperatures, brought scenic winter images across the region and other parts of France such as Normandy and Corsica, with many shared publicly and professionally. Overall, authorities and citizens remain vigilant as the first winter episode marks the beginning of the season's challenges for transport and public safety in Île-de-France and beyond.