Historic Cold Grips Southwestern France: Landes Department Braces for Prolonged Freeze
A severe cold wave has descended upon the Landes department in southwestern France, with temperatures plummeting to record lows and prompting heightened vigilance from local authorities. Residents awoke to frigid conditions on Sunday, January 4, as the mercury dipped below zero across the region, with some areas experiencing temperatures as low as -8.9°C.
Record Lows and Regional Impact
The town of Pissos recorded the lowest temperature, reaching -8.9°C at 8 a.m., a figure not unexpected given the town’s reputation for experiencing the greatest temperature fluctuations in the Landes. Locals recall similar conditions just a month prior, when temperatures nearly reached -6°C. The cold is widespread, impacting multiple sectors. In the Serreslous sector, the chill is particularly noticeable, and residents of Léon faced a biting -7.3°C at the start of the day.
The capital of Landes, Mont-de-Marsan, registered -7°C at 8 a.m., while Bégaar saw temperatures fall to -7.9°C in Parentis-en-Born at 4 a.m. Notably, farmers in Bégaar have resumed a protest, blockading a roundabout on a major highway since Saturday, January 3, adding to the challenges posed by the extreme weather.
Widespread Sub-Zero Temperatures
Further temperature readings taken at 8 a.m. revealed a consistently frigid landscape:
- Créon-d’Armagnac: -6.6°C
- Bélis: -6.1°C
- Retjons: -5°C
- Sanguinet: -5.7°C
- Saint-Vincent-de-Paul: -5°C
- Labouheyre: -4.8°C
- Sabres: -4.5°C
- Souprosse & Parleboscq: -4.3°C
- Aire-sur-l’Adour: -4°C
- Samadet & Rion-des-Landes: -3.9°C
- Dax: -3.1°C
Coastal areas were not spared, with Biscarrosse Plage recording -3°C and Capbreton and Hossegor experiencing -2.2°C.
Forecast and Emergency Response
Forecasters predict temperatures will hover around 3°C this afternoon, with the northern part of the Landes potentially remaining below freezing all day. The cold spell is expected to persist until Wednesday morning, with the night of Sunday to Monday posing the greatest risk due to the anticipated formation of freezing fog. There is also a possibility of snowfall overnight from Monday to Tuesday.
In response, the Landes prefecture has issued urgent calls for vigilance, reinforcing emergency accommodation and social monitoring systems. A senior official stated that additional emergency shelters have been mobilized in Mont-de-Marsan to supplement existing resources. These efforts will be coupled with ongoing outreach programs, including food distributions and the operation of day centers in Mont-de-Marsan and Dax.
This extreme cold event underscores the importance of preparedness and community support in the face of challenging weather conditions, as the Landes department navigates a prolonged period of sub-zero temperatures.
