Freezing conditions by Riviera Times

Freezing conditions cause havoc

The Siberian cold front ‘Cooper’ has hit the region, causing havoc and disruption for many. Power cuts, canceled flights and evacuated schools have resulted, and there are more sub-zero temperatures on the way.

Snow falls on the Riviera, causing havoc. Photo by Marijke Timmermans, Copyright The Riviera Times

The mercury dropped to below zero throughout the Alpes Maritimes and the Var earlier this week, sending a heavy dumping of snow. Buses were ordered to halt services, and lanes were closed on the A8 highway. Due to dangerous driving conditions, vehicles weighing more than 7.5 tonnes were forbidden to use the main thoroughfare. Around 240 trucks were grounded in Muy, while on the A50 in the Marseille-Toulon direction, 30 heavy vehicles were stored in Bandol.
Icy conditions lead to an accident on the A8 near Vidauban, forcing the closure of two lanes.
The freezing temperatures spiked energy consumption, forcing power cuts and leaving thousands of homes without electricity in the Var. Meanwhile in Valbonne, residents united together to set up two crisis shelters providing food and shelter for those unable to get home. Garbage collection was also affected, as workers had difficulty reaching various communities due to the dangerous conditions on the roads.
On the other hand, delighted children finished school early and leaped at the chance to enjoy an afternoon of fun in the snow on Tuesday 31st January. It was also great news for many excited snow hounds heading to various ski resorts for their fix of winter sports in the Alps. Clear skies on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as a heavy dumping of snow, proved perfect conditions for skiing and snowboarding.
Further snow is forecast for the Var and the Bouches-du-Rhône on Saturday, while the Alpes Maritimes will experience lows of –1 degree Celsius. More sub-zero temperatures are expected on Sunday and Monday.
Finally, are you wondering why this cold front has been called ‘Cooper’? Well, car company BMW paid 229 euros to Germany’s “Adopt a Vortex” scheme, which has been running since 2002. Money raised from this unique advertising venture goes to fund weather monitoring at Berlin’s Free University.
Sarah Lloyd