Eleven departments in northern France, including Île-de-France and the entirety of Hauts-de-France, have been placed under orange alert for snow and icy conditions, as announced by La Chaîne Météo. Starting Sunday at 8 AM, significant snowfall is anticipated, impacting the areas from Haute-Normandie to Centre-Val de Loire and Limousin. Forecasts predict that the snow accumulation may reach between 4 to 8 cm temporarily on hills and plateau regions before a warming trend mid-day mitigates these conditions.

The affected departments include Aisne, Ardennes, Aube, Marne, Nord, Oise, Pas-de-Calais, Seine-et-Marne, Somme, Yonne, and Val-d'Oise. As the weather system passes through, residents are encouraged to take precautions due to the forecasted hazardous conditions, including potential disruptions to transportation and everyday activities. The orange alert suggests that these weather conditions could have significant impacts, warranting increased awareness and preparedness among the populace.

This alert comes as part of broader winter weather patterns affecting France, which have prompted discussions about climate variations and the resilience needed to deal with increasingly unpredictable weather conditions. Authorities will be monitoring the situation closely and will provide updates as the weather developments unfold throughout the day.