Netherlands to France set for 1st widespread snowfall of the year into Wednesday

Parts of western Europe, including much of the Netherlands, Belgium and France, will look like a winter wonderland as snow continues to fall into Wednesday.

A storm tracking from the United Kingdom into western Europe clashed with cold air, resulting in the first snowfall of the year in Amsterdam, Brussels and Paris on Tuesday.

Snow began during the morning hours from Netherlands into northern France before spreading in central areas by midday.

Snow will continue to fall at times into Wednesday night from near the coast of the North Sea all the way to just north of the Mediterranean Sea in the higher terrain north of Montpellier and Marseille, France.

While the snow is not expected to be heavy, it will be enough to accumulate 2-8 cm (1-3 inches) across northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands and far western Germany.

“Travel disruptions are expected due to slippery roadways into Wednesday,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys.

As the snow spreads into the higher terrain of the Massif Central, 8-15 cm (3-6 inches) are possible before the snow tapers off Wednesday evening.

“A few locations could have as much as 30 cm (12 inches) of fresh snowfall,” said Roys.

Snow will also fall in the Pyrenees, where widespread snowfall of 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) is expected, with up to 60 cm (24 inches) on the peaks.

This heavy snowfall will lead to an increase risk for avalanches during the middle of the week.

The highest elevations of northern Spain will also be impacted by heavy snowfall during this storm, with rain falling in lower elevations from Madrid to Barcelona into Wednesday.

As the storm dives south and east, it will bring snow to the higher terrain of Corsica as well as central and northern Italy from Wednesday into Thursday.

Italy and the Balkan Peninsula will then be at risk for an extended period of snowfall from Friday into Sunday as this storm slowly tracks eastward.

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