Weather-Related Travel and Access Restrictions Ease in Corrèze and Sarthe, Wind Alerts Clamp Down on Seine-et-Marne Forests

As of January 9, 2026, weather alerts and restrictions in several French departments show signs of easing, though caution remains necessary. In Corrèze, the orange alert for snow and ice was lifted at 6 a.m., with the department moving to yellow vigilance until 8 a.m. before transitioning to green. Despite this, slippery road conditions persist due to overnight freezing rain, especially in areas such as Ussel, Meymac, the Millevaches plateau, and Montagne Limousine. The prefect advised limiting non-essential travel and adapting driving accordingly. Road maintenance teams including DIRCO, ASF Vinci, and the departmental council worked overnight treating priority and secondary roads such as RD 1120 and RD 920 to ensure passability.

Meanwhile, the Sarthe department has downgraded its snow and ice alert to green, ending restrictions that had barred heavy trucks and suspended school transport. While road conditions remain delicate, no serious injuries were reported during the episode. Authorities praised citizens for responsible conduct through the winter event, which saw considerable deployment of security and emergency personnel totaling around 615 staff.

Contrastingly, Seine-et-Marne remains under an orange alert for strong winds. Responding to safety concerns, the prefect issued a ban on public and private forest access from the evening of January 8 until midnight January 10. This includes roads and hiking trails within forest areas, with exceptions only for emergency services, authorized personnel, and certain property owners and managers.

These measures reflect the varied but continuing impact of severe winter weather in different regions, with precautionary efforts maintained alongside gradual easing of travel constraints in some areas.