January 2026 Week 2 Weather Brings Rain, Warming, and Snow Challenges Across France

France is experiencing notable weather changes during the second week of January 2026, marked by successive Atlantic disturbances bringing frequent rain and varying temperatures. Starting Monday, a warming trend began across most of the country, with temperatures rising especially in western and northern regions while localized frost and cold conditions linger in the east. Rain was prevalent north of the Loire, with sunnier conditions in the south except for cloudy Mediterranean areas influenced by marine winds.

By Tuesday, mild weather settled in with temperatures reaching 13 to 15°C, climbing as high as 18°C in the Basque Country due to the foehn effect, reminiscent of early April conditions. However, rain and strong southern winds affected coastal zones near the English Channel and Mediterranean. Wednesday saw a new disturbance spreading rain from the Pyrénées to central France, accompanied by southwesterly winds and a temperature drop of 2°C compared to Tuesday, though temperatures remained above seasonal averages.

Towards the end of the week, the weather turned unsettled with widespread rain, strong winds near the English Channel, and snow returning in mountainous areas above 1000 to 1200 meters. Eastern regions experienced increased instability with showers.

In the Puy-de-Dôme area, snowfall caused significant road difficulties earlier in the week, particularly on January 7. This winter weather impact added to ongoing local challenges including farmers' protests against livestock disease management and a shutdown of private clinics protesting Social Security budget cuts. The mix of rain, warming, and snow has both altered daily life and posed travel difficulties across various French regions this week.