First Heavy Snows Hit The Pyrenees And Alps; Historic September Cold Grips France; B.C.’s Vineyards Still Reeling From Crippling Freeze; + Half A Century Of Failed Doomsday

With a nationwide mean max of just 10.9C, France just had one of its coldest September days ever (alongside 1902, 1919, and 1946).

First Heavy Snows Hit The Pyrenees And Alps

The first significant snow of the season has arrived in Europe’s mountains.

Temperatures in the Pyrenees collapsed by more than 20C, plunging from late-summer warmth to biting autumn chill almost overnight. The switch delivered decent snow accumulations to the high peaks, including the Pic du Midi de Bigorre:

And also to La Mongie:

Such widespread snowfall this early is considered unusual, with the conditions not confined to the Pyrenees. Continued snows across the Alps have been observed all week, with totals piling up at the likes of Italy’s Aosta Valley:

Webcams at Cervino Ski Paradise, Aosta Valley, Italy (Sept 24).

And also Germany’s Zugspitze, where snow clearing is already underway:

Webcam at Zugspitze on Sept 25, where temps reached -5C (23F).

Even in Spain, some 20 cm (8 inches) buried Collado Jermoso in Picos de Europa, the heaviest September snow there since 1997:

Collado Jermoso sees rare 8 inches (Sept 23).

With Siberia already locking in exceptional early-season cover and now Europe’s ranges turning white, the stage is set.

Historic September Cold Grips France

It’s little wonder early snowfall is building on the European ranges — historic cold is currently gripping much of the continent. France logged an exceptionally cold September day on Wednesday, with maximums rivaling century-old records.