Heavy Snowstorm Hits Central French Provinces Hard

France is hit with an early snowstorm, which heralds a rough winter to come. (Flickr)

Over 195,000 homes were left without power on October 30 after heavy snow fell across many central regions of France the previous evening, according to the Local. The storm left hundreds trapped inside of their vehicles. French meteorologists predict the snowstorm will be the first of many this upcoming winter season.

According to the Local, the weather mainly affected the departments of Haute-Loire, Lozere, Loire, Puy-de- Dôme, Cantal, Aveyron, Correze, and the Creuse. Burgundy and the Rhone- Alpes were also affected by the heavy snowstorm. The storm hit hardest in the Massif Central region.

Many residents were caught by surprise as winter weather settled in early across central France. The Local reported that the heavy snowfall left 950 drivers stranded on roads in the Haute-Loire and Loire departments of the country and initially left about 200,000 homes without electricity.

On Corsica, several people were injured, 25,000 houses lost power on the island, and boats toppled over in the Mediterranean Sea.

In the department of Haute-Loire, officials closed the roads due to the weather and motorists spent the night inside of their vehicles on the road. Drivers on Route 88 Nationale were evacuated, and hundreds spent the night in emergency accommodations. RFI reported that more than 2,000 vehicles were trapped on the roads overnight into Tuesday morning.

Communist Senator Cecile Cukierman occupied one of those vehicles when she was caught in deep snow in Saint Etienne. She accused national services of inadequate preparation for the heavy snowfall, RFI reports. She also criticized emergency operations for their “lack of humanity.”

President of the Haute-Loire Departmental Council Jean-Pierre Marcon condemned drivers for taking to the roads in such dangerous conditions and strongly advised those who do in the future to ensure their tires are suitable for such inclement weather.

One irate driver told France Info, “It’s not normal that they allow lorries to drive when the roads are not suitable.” Many drivers also took to social media, videotaping the conditions and people attempting to push their cars out of the heavy snow.

In Aveyron, a 75-year-old woman was killed in her vehicle after the snow caused a pile-up. The same pile-up seriously injured four others.

French drivers are still advised not to travel in Haute-Loire, as fallen trees block several roads across the region.

Seventeen French departments, located in the central and eastern regions of the country, remained on high alert for further snowfall on the morning of October 30. Meteo France advised the public to remain vigilant across the center of the country, especially in places such as Ardennes, Marne, Aube, Yonne, Côte d’Or, Nièvre and Haute-Loire.

France is not the only European nation to be affected by the early snowfall. According to the Sun, more than 38,000 homes were without power when heavy snow fell on the island of Menorca, Spain on Monday, October 29. The island also suffered damages from a tornado which accompanied the snowstorm.