Severe Snow and Ice Cause Major Disruptions and Fatalities in Île-de-France

On January 5 and 6, 2026, Île-de-France and surrounding regions faced intense snowfall and hazardous icy conditions, leading to widespread transportation chaos and multiple fatalities. Météo-France issued an orange alert for 26 departments due to "strong frost" and slippery surfaces, prompting authorities to activate Level 3 of the snow and ice plan in the region.

Traffic jams exceeded 1,000 kilometers on Monday, with 200 kilometers of congestion remaining in the evening. Public transport was severely affected; RATP suspended all bus services due to dangerous ice, with partial resumption on Tuesday for about 30 bus lines. RER and tramway disruptions also ended by Tuesday morning. On major roads, speed limits were cut to 80 km/h, heavy trucks banned, and TGV trains reduced speeds from 300 km/h to 200 km/h. Airports in Paris reduced flights by 15%, with average delays of 50 minutes at Charles-de-Gaulle and 37 minutes at Orly.

Further compounding the crisis, several fatal accidents occurred related to the snow and ice. Six deaths were reported across the country including in Île-de-France: a VTC driver died after his car plunged into the Marne river in Val-de-Marne, while transporting a passenger who survived with hypothermia. In Seine-et-Marne, a truck collided with a van causing one death and two injuries. Outside the region, three people died in a collision between two Flixbuses in the Landes, and a young motorcyclist died in Ille-et-Vilaine due to icy roads.

In response to the dangerous conditions, Seine-et-Marne officials suspended all school transportation services on January 6, affecting special circuits, lines for students with disabilities, and regular school routes. Additional circulation restrictions were also imposed in the department.

Authorities opened emergency shelters, with Paris provisioning 1,250 additional spaces to accommodate those affected by ongoing cold temperatures. The combination of harsh winter weather and insufficient preparation drew criticism from motorists, some comparing the response unfavorably to other snowy countries.

Overall, the severe winter weather has paralyzed transport, driven tragic accidents, and prompted emergency measures to safeguard public safety in and around the capital region.